da heads bet： West Ham United are seemingly shopping in the bargain bin ahead of Deadline Day with reports of interest in Everton winger Theo Walcott, whilst Leeds court Brentford star Said Benrahma.
What’s the word?
da betcris： According to TEAMtalk, the Irons have emerged as one of a number of Premier League sides to have contacted Walcott and his representatives to discuss a late transfer this summer.
Walcott has apparently been deemed surplus to requirements at Goodison Park by coach Carlo Ancelotti, who does not consider the former England international to be a part of his long-term vision and only awarded the 31-year-old his top-flight season debut late into Saturday’s 4-2 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion.
Everton are thought to have placed Walcott on the transfer list early on in summer but have found potential suitors willing to buy the London-born forward hard to come by, although interest from the Hammers – along with Newcastle United and rivals Fulham and Crystal Palace – could see a deal occur before Monday’s deadline passes.
West Ham and Palace are both said to be in contact with Everton over a move, while Walcott’s representatives have spoken to Newcastle and Fulham to discuss their levels of interest in their client.
Intermediaries attempting to secure Walcott’s move away from Goodison Park are also understood to have offered the forward to his former side Southampton, in the hopes that The Saints would consider a return for their academy graduate.
GSB shopping for bargains
West Ham contacting Everton to discuss a late move for Walcott suggests that David Gold and David Sullivan have now taken to shopping in the bargain bin in their search of attacking reinforcements.
Walcott has been frozen out of the Toffees’ first-team for much of the 2020/21 season already, with Ancelotti omitting the £10.8m-rated attacker from his matchday squads in two of his side’s four Premier League encounters to date.
The former Arsenal attacker’s form last season also shows a player who would add little quality to David Moyes’ offence, having only averaged a lowly 0.8 key balls a game in the top-flight alongside 0.8 shots, an appalling 9.8 accurate passes, 0.7 successful dribbles and lost possession 8.9 times, per SofaScore.
And all the while West Ham chiefs are considering signing Walcott, former Irons target Benrahma could be nearing a move to the Premier League but with Leeds as Whites boss Marcelo Bielsa is said to be relaunching efforts to land the Algerian following an injury to Pablo Hernandez.
Benrahma proved why he is ready for the top-flight with his performance against Fulham in the Carabao Cup during the week, but GSB’s refusal to pay Brentford’s asking price could leave them witnessing the author of 17 goals and 10 assists last season playing for the other side when the Hammers travel to Elland Road in December.
AND in other news, West Ham risk unsettling David Moyes’ plans with a move to sign a 39-cap player once signed for £47.5million.