West Ham United are reportedly planning to hi-jack Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku move but the Rennes winger ‘only wants’ to join the Premier League champions.
The Hammers must be sick of the sight of Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola’s pursuit of Lucas Paqueta is already threatening to overshadow the final two weeks of West Ham’s window – Fabrizio Romano reporting that the treble-winners are preparing a new and improved offer for the Brazilian ball-player – while David Moyes also looks destined to be left frustrated in his pursuit of one of Europe’s most exciting young attackers.
According to Belgian reporter Sacha Tavolieri, West Ham are in talks with Rennes regarding Jeremy Doku. The Londoners are even willing to stump up a larger fee than the deep-pocketed City, with Doku valued at around £47 million.
But even if West Ham end up saying the bigger number, Doku will push for a move to Manchester instead.
Jeremy Doku chooses Man City over West Ham
“Jeremy Doku has agreed a five-year deal and personal terms with Man City,” Tavolieri writes on Twitter. “The Belgian winger already spoke to Pep Guardiola. The first written official offer to be submitted at Stade Rennais this week.
“The French club ask minimum of 55 million euros. West Ham United are also on the race and currently in talks with Rennes officials. (West Ham) want to hijack City with a bigger offer.
“But Jeremy Doku only wants Manchester City. Wait and see.”
Rennes coach Bruno Genesio admitted earlier in the week that the opportunity to hone his talents under arguably the finest coach in world football may be impossible for Doku to turn down. The jet-heeled 21-year-old – once labelled a ‘diamond in the rough’ by Etihad hero and Belgium team-mate Kevin de Bruyne – would give City a different sort of dimension in the final third.
An F1 car in Guardiola’s garage full of Rolls Royces.
“He has incredible qualities that we discovered at Anderlecht,” former Belgium and Newcastle defender Phillipe Albert tells RTBF.
“I don’t think the step (to Manchester City) is too high. He has the qualities to impose himself in the Premier League, or any other league in the world.
“If he is physically at 100 per cent, he will make his mark and scare the opponents. He’s a bit like Eden Hazard at the beginning of his career, with double and triple gears that can really hurt (defenders).”
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