West Ham United and Fulham are leading the chase to sign Blackburn Rovers striker Adam Armstrong, as reported by The Sun.
If this is to be his final season in blue-and-white halves, Armstrong could hardly have signed off in better style.
The former Newcastle youngster scored two hat-tricks in his last three games for Blackburn, taking his seasonal tally to a career best 29.
Unfortunately for Blackburn, the rest of an underachieving yet highly talented squad failed to match Armstrong’s consistency.
As a result, a disappointing mid-table finish means their star man looks certain to go when the transfer window opens.
The Sun reports that while Everton and Brighton are interested, London rivals West Ham and Fulham are at the front of the queue.
Blackburn have made it clear it will cost “ridiculous money” to lure Armstrong from Ewood Park. The asking price is understood to be in the region of £25 million.
Should relegated Fulham win the race, Armstrong would replace Ruben Neves as the most expensive signing in Championship history.
West Ham, however, appear the most likely destination at this stage. Armstrong would surely rather play Europa League football than Championship football after all?
West Ham manager David Moyes even held talks with Mowbray earlier this year to discuss the prospect of Armstrong swapping Lancashire for London.
A diminutive and versatile forward who can also play out wide, you’d think the 24-year-old would fit Moyes’ hard-running style far more than the languid Sebastien Haller did.
Furthermore, the Hammers have had great success when it comes to identifying up-and-coming talent making their mark in the division below. Jarrod Bowen and Said Benrahma have both played a key role in the club’s unexpected European push.
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