On Thursday night at the London Stadium, Youssef En-Nesyri missed the chance to impress a club who tried to sign him in 2021 and could come calling again in 2022.
And we mean that literally, as well as figuratively.
West Ham United’s interest in Sevilla’s Morocco international centre-forward is hardly one of Europe’s best-kept secrets.
“It is true several English teams have tried to sign En-Nesyri,” Sevilla president Jose Castro said last year after the La Liga giants turned down a £28 million bid from the Hammers (Guardian).
“There was an offer of 33 million euros plus five in bonuses.
“But we have no intention of selling the player right now. And he (En-Nesyri) has said he is delighted here.”
Michail Antonio was the only senior centre-forward on West Ham’s books when the London giants tried and failed to lure En-Nesyri away from the Estadio Roman Sanchez Pizjuan in January 2021, following the sale of Sebastien Haller to Ajax.
14 months on, the Hammers find themselves in exactly the same situation.
Who will be West Ham’s new striker?
Michail Antonio was at his unplayable, ‘Human Power-ball’ peak as the Hammers knocked Sevilla out of the Europa League on Thursday night. But even he admits that Moyes needs another number nine at his disposal.
“People do not understand when I say ‘I want someone to cover for me, I want a striker to come in’,” Antonio admits, via Football London.
“I am not just thinking about myself. I am thinking about the team.”
Side-before-self. So typically Antonio.
According to Planet Sport, West Ham haven’t given up on En-Nesyri just yet. They weighing up another approach ahead of the summer window.
Though, as Europa League specialists Sevilla crashed out in front of a record attendance at the London Stadium, the former Leganes frontman hardly looked like a man worthy of his reported £40 million price-tag.
Missed opportunity?
Yes, he caused problems with his speed in behind, running off the otherwise imperious Kurt Zouma on a few occasions. Yes, he was denied a first-half goal by a truly astounding Alphonse Areola save.
But En-Nesyri has only scored three goals in 20 games this term. And the wasteful streak that dogged his early years in La Liga was back again with a vengeance at the home of the Hammers. En-Nesyri’s 2021/22 was summed up midway through the second half as he drifted in behind the home defence before lashing a wild shot into the stands.
West Ham’s long-running interest in En-Nesyri was another subplot in an already intriguing European match-up. But there was only one striker on the pitch last night who looked worthy of such a stage, and he was wearing claret-and-blue.
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