FC Lorient striker Terem Moffi would prefer to join OGC Nice over West Ham United in the January transfer window. But a move to the Premier League does interest the Nigeria star.
That is according to Ryan Taylor, who reports that Moffi is quite happy to stay at the Stade du Moustoir this month. Yet should Les Merlus accept an offer for his services, the forward would favour Les Aiglons over the Hammers. Both sides are currently chasing his signature.
Moffi would favour a switch to Nice over West Ham as the chance to move to England with the Irons does not excite the 23-year-old. He is also performing well for Les Merlus with 12 goals in 18 Ligue 1 games this season. Only Kylian Mbappe (13) has hit more in the division.
So, despite the Premier League being a division which interests Moffi, the seven-cap star is reluctant to leave Lorient to join West Ham. He would also favour a move to Nice, despite Les Aiglons (10th) ranking lower in the Ligue 1 table than Les Merlus (7th) after 19 fixtures.
Lorient are seven points better off than Nice, as well, to sit five points outside the Europa League qualifying places. Yet their hopes of securing European football would fade should Moffi go, with Marseille – who sit in third – also rivalling West Ham and Nice for a transfer.
West Ham wanted to secure Moffi’s transfer from Lorient as well as Ings’ arrival
According to Foot Mercato, Marseille have now made Lorient an offer to beat West Ham to Moffi’s transfer. Les Phoceens ramped up their pursuit in recent hours after making the striker their top target. OM president Pablo Longoria has also made it his personal mission.
Foot Mercato does not cite the value of Marseille’s offer but adds that Nice have bid €22m (£19.5m), including add-ons. While football.london has reported that West Ham bid £20m, plus £5m in add-ons. Sky Sports also reports that Lorient would accept the Irons’ proposal.
Yet while West Ham are offering Lorient more than Nice bid, Moffi would favour a transfer to Les Aiglons. His decision to stay in Ligue 1 is likely to frustrate David Moyes as Sky Sports adds the Scot was hopeful of signing the striker as well as Danny Ings in the winter market.
West Ham completed a deal to sign Ings from Aston Villa for £12m, rising up to £15m, last Friday. He will now rival Michail Antonio for minutes. But Moyes also wanted to sign Moffi, who European football expert Kevin Hatchard considers to be ‘a nightmare for defenders’.
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