Former West Ham United starlet Pierre Ekwah is in line for a return to the Premier League already with Crystal Palace, Fulham and Nottingham Forest eyeing the Sunderland midfielder.
The good news is that West Ham had the foresight to include a sell-on clause in Pierre Ekwah’s contract.
Thank the lord they did, because the 21-year-old Frenchman has seen his transfer value soar since leaving the London Stadium for the Stadium of Light nearly 12 months ago. A player who left West Ham for a ‘nominal’ fee now likely to cost a seven-figure sum.
TEAMtalk report that Nottingham Forest are interested. As are two of West Ham’s London neighbours; Crystal Palace and a Fulham team who smashed five past David Moyes’ beleaguered backline on a humiliating Sunday afternoon at Craven Cottage.
West Ham United sold Pierre Ekwah to Sunderland
The report does not share the sort of fee Sunderland would be looking for. But Ekwah is certain to earn the Black Cats a colossal profit if he does indeed depart after Christmas.
The France U20 international, who spent three years in Chelsea’s academy, was a key part of the Sunderland side who reached the Championship play-offs against all the odds last term. He remains a regular starter in red-and-white, and scored twice in a 5-0 thumping of Southampton earlier this season.
“I keep telling him that, if he can develop that physical aspect of his game, then what a footballer we’ve got,” Tony Mowbray, who lost his job on Wearside this month, told The Chronicle in May.
“(Ekwah) can do amazing things with his feet. He’s so clever with his feet. You can see how fast his feet are, and he can see pictures.
“He’s a good footballer. So if he can just add the off-the-ball stuff, then he’ll be even better. He’s doing exceptionally well.
“He’s a young boy who had never played a professional game before coming to Sunderland. He’d had a lot of U23 football, but you can see the talent and the physicality that he’s got.”
Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and Fulham interested
Crystal Palace, in particular, have enjoyed some real success when raiding the Championship in recent seasons. Michael Olise and Ebere Eze have blossomed at Selhurst Park since joining Palace from Queens Park Rangers and Reading respectively.
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