Hatayspor have confirmed English interest in reported Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United target Aaron Boupendza, telling Sabah the striker won’t be sold for a penny less than £7 million.
After finishing last season as the Super Lig’s top scorer – netting 22 goals in 25 starts – it was assumed the Gabon international would have moved on from the Turkish club a while ago.
But with just two weeks to go until the new season kicks off, Boupendza is still plying his trade in Antakya and, unless someone is willing to splash out £7 million before the end of August, things will stay that way.
Are Tottenham or West Ham prepared to pay £7m for Aaron Boupendza?
90Min reports Southampton have scouted the former Bordeaux striker on a number of occasions and, after Danny Ings rejected the chance to extend his contract at St Mary’s, the South Coast club could step up their pursuit of a new number nine sooner rather than later.
It’s understood West Ham, Leicester, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace have all shown interest in Boupendza too.
As has a Spurs side that has just one senior centre-forward on its books. And it certainly seems Harry Kane, absent from training this morning, is doing his bit to further Dane Scarlett’s career in north London.
Hatayspor president Lutfu Savas was unwilling to confirm the identity of Boupendza’s suitors but did admit at least one UK-based side is in the race.
“There are offers from four clubs from England, Italy and the Middle East. We are in contact with those clubs, we can sell Boupendza,” Savas says.
“We plan to sell him (but) we do not intend to give him away for less than €8 million (£7 million) because we previously agreed a fee of €8 million with Krasnodar.”
Boupendza, Savas claims, rejected a move to the Russian side.
An opportunity to prove his worth in the Premier League, however, may be simply too good to turn down.
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