Peter O’Rourke says it will take something major from West Ham United to seal a deal for Youssef En-Nesyri this window.
A recent report from The Athletic noted that the Hammers have made Sevilla an offer totalling €30m in order to sign him this window. The bid was swiftly rejected by the Spanish side, but talks are still ongoing, so the deal isn’t officially dead yet.
However, O’Rourke, speaking on the latest edition of Touchline Talk, doesn’t think that the negotiations will be going on for too long unless something drastic changes on either side of the negotiating table:
He said: “I’d be very surprised if Sevilla were to let him go. They’re still in the Champions League as well with the game against Borussia Dortmund next month and I think he’s figured in every La Liga and Champions League game for Sevilla this season, so it would take a big, big offer for them to consider selling him this month without a replacement lined up.”
Is Youssef En-Nesyri out of West Ham's price range?
Yes
No
TIF Thoughts on O’Rourke’s claim about En-Nesyri and West Ham…
O’Rourke’s point is a valid one, with Sevilla in the situation they are in why would they want to jeopardise their future by letting him go for what they might perceive as a cheap deal, and given his form this season it’s going to be hard to find a replacement.
And with West Ham United’s finances not in the best of places, even with the income of £25m following the departure of Sébastien Haller to Ajax, there’s only so far that there budget is likely going to go, and judging by what O’Rourke said, it’s probably not going to stretch enough for what Sevilla want.
So perhaps this is a deal to address in the summer once the Premier League prize money comes in, but for now it looks as if West Ham might be better off looking elsewhere.