West Ham United want to sign Kelechi Iheanacho as £25m valuation emerges before deadline

West Ham want to sign Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho before Friday’s transfer deadline after a move for Yuri Alberto collapsed, reports Ben Jacobs.

Writing on his personal Twitter account (31 August), the journalist reports that Leicester value the Nigeria international at close to £20m amid interest from Crystal Palace, Wolves and the Hammers.

David Moyes wants a new striker before Friday’s 11pm deadline and after a deal for Corinthians forward Alberto fell through, Iheanacho has emerged as a new target.

“Leicester value Kelechi Iheanacho at close to £20m,” he wrote.

“Enzo Maresca would rather keep the Nigerian striker, but there is Premier League interest from Crystal Palace.

“Wolves and West Ham have also looked.”

Alternative

With time really ticking down on the transfer window and a striker clearly wanted at the London Stadium by David Moyes, this could be one that makes sense late on.

Tim Steidten has spent the last few days in Brazil looking at deals but they will all be complicated to do on such short notice, and it could be that the club go for something easier as the clock runs down.

Iheanacho has got plenty of Premier League experience and has a playing style that suits what Moyes likes to do, with great physical attributes and good technical quality too.

That £20m valuation isn’t mind-blowing and if a deal needs to be done then we know what it would take to do, as well as knowing the player would be able to hit the ground running as he has experience at this level.

It’s unlikely at this stage, but it’s certainly a deal to keep an eye on in the coming hours as we head towards the final 24 hours of the transfer window.

In other West Ham news, first-team ace being “pushed towards” the exit at the London Stadium.