West Ham United have been linked with a move for the attacker all summer but it seems Everton have beaten them to the punch.
According to a report from nieuwsblad.be, Everton have reached an agreement to sign Eupen forward Henry Onyekuru, and while that would come as a bitter blow for his alleged suitors West Ham United, it is the Toffees’ short-term plans for the player that will really rile Hammers supporters.
The report states that Everton will immediately loan Onyekuru to Anderlecht, so not only are they signing a player West Ham have somehow let slip through their fingers, but they are not even going to use him next season.
Earlier this month, Own Goal Nigeria reported that West Ham made an improved £9million offer for the 20-year-old, after seeing an initial £7million bid rejected by Eupen. And while the Hammers can only do so much in pursuit of a player, one wonders if they really did enough in this instance.
After all, the Nigerian scored 24 goals and provided nine assists for the Belgian club last season and he is exactly what West Ham need to ensure they improve in Slaven Bilic’s third year at the helm.
Considering the cut-price fee it would have taken to get a deal over the line, the West Ham hierarchy should have been moving heaven and earth to get a deal done.
While no official announcement has yet been made, if Everton do complete a deal and send him to Anderlecht, Hammers supporters can only sit and wonder what might have been, losing out on a player to a club who do not yet need him.
Has Koeman beaten Bilic to the punch?
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