With Everton also challenging for Leeds United goal machine Chris Wood, West Ham will be hoping their secret weapon pays off.
West Ham United have a challenge on their hands if they want to pry Chris Wood away from Leeds United in the summer.
But that does not mean they won’t try. According to Calciomercato, they could make a bid of £5 million for the Championship’s top scorer with manager Slaven Bilic currently forced to rely upon the injury-prone Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho.
Calciomercato add that a number of Premier League rivals are interested too, and it’s the links with Everton that are most intriguing. If wantaway Romelu Lukaku gets his wish and earns a move from Goodison Park this summer, The Toffees will have plenty of money to play with – with Wood’s arrival likely costing much more than the £5 million fee reported.
Therefore, although Wood has plundered 25 goals in the most prolific season of his career, you would expect them to aim a little higher than the Leeds United forward. Despite coming through the ranks at West Brom, he is still unproven in the top flight.
Yet, if Everton are to rival West Ham for Wood’s signature this summer, they may have to overcome the capital club’s ‘secret weapon’.
Football London claims that they are hopeful Wood’s relationship with New Zealand team-mate and Hammers captain Winston Reid will prove decisive in a transfer tug of war.
The Auckland-born duo were both included in The Kiwi’s squad for the 2010 World Cup and have spent seven years together in the international set-up.
Therefore, West Ham will be praying that Wood is enticed by the prospect of a reunion at club level.
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