According to Sport1 in Germany, Everton and West Ham United are fighting it out for RB Leipzig striker Hwang Hee-chan ahead of the summer window.
It’s claimed that both teams wanted to sign Hwang during the winter transfer window, and are now ready to try again this summer.
Hwang doesn’t have a release clause, but Leipzig are demanding €15million (£13.5million) – the same price they paid to sign him from Red Bull Salzburg last summer.
Hwang has struggled since joining Leipzig, failing to score in 15 Bundesliga and three Champions League games. His two goals and one assist for the club all came in the DFB-Pokal.
Still, the report notes that Julian Nagelsmann personally blocked Hwang from leaving in January because he didn’t want to go without him until the end of the season.
With Nagelsmann now off to Bayern Munich, Leipzig are ready to sell the South Korean international, and it’s easy to see why Premier League clubs want him.
Hwang smashed 16 goals and 22 assists for Salzburg last season, and he can play up front or out wide with his blistering pace causing problems for defenders.
Just look at what people say about him; Erling Haaland called him brilliant and ex-Salzburg coach Peter Zeidler branded him ‘exceptional’.
Everton need a striker with Joshua King’s deal set to expire this summer, whilst West Ham need to find somebody to replace Sebastien Haller, with Hwang a better fit for David Moyes’ style thanks to his speed.
The price seems pretty reasonable, and we could now see Moyes take on his former club in the race to sign Hwang at the end of the season.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
