Ben Brereton Diaz transfer ‘dead in the water’ for West Ham as David Moyes suffers telling blow
West Ham United’s reported wishes to secure a £28m Ben Brereton Diaz transfer this month has suffered what looks to be a significant blow.
Rumours have been rife this month over a potential Premier League move for the Chilean striker. Brereton Diaz has been outstanding for his Lancashire-based club this season, scoring 20 goals in 27 Championship outings. Now, it has been reported that David Moyes had scouts sent to watch the man in action recently.
Indeed, the report claims Hammers scouts watched Brereton Diaz in action as Blackburn were defeated 2-0 by Hull City last Wednesday.
The loss was his fourth consecutive game without a goal, though he still remains the league’s second top scorer.
The potential signing, however, is further complicated by Blackburn’s lofty valuation.
While the striker has six months left on his deal, they hold an option to extend that by 12 months – something they look certain to do. Furthermore, Blackburn’s win over Middlesbrough on Monday night, has lifted Rovers up to second in the Championship.
Since their relegation from the Premier League in 2012, Blackburn have never been closer to a return.
And for that reason, Blackburn are placing a prohibitive £28m valuation on their star man’s head.
Furthermore, the deal has suddenly been all the more complicated for the Hammers.
Striker seems perfect for Moyes
With Moyes desperate to relieve the goals burden on Michail Antonio, Brereton Diaz appears to tick all the boxes.
Moyes has also addressed West Ham’s year-long chase to sign a new striker.
“I think in a perfect world that is what we would try and do,” he said. “We have been trying for a couple of years to add a striker to the group but we have not been able to.
“We have had quite a few offers for players at different times that have not been accepted or we could not get or [they] have been too expensive. So it is not for the want of trying and not like we are not seeing the same things that others are seeing.
“It is trying to get in players that I think can help us and make a difference but we will continue trying to look. With a week or so to go [in the transfer window] we will keep looking.”
Brereton Diaz transfer seemingly off
The Chile international’s confidence has soared since being called up for the South American side. Qualifying through his mother, the Stoke-born frontman has taken extremely well to international football.
But with six days left in the window, the chances of signing him have become highly complicated for that exa.
Indeed, Brereton Diaz has jetted off to South America to join up with Chile ahead of World Cup qualifiers. They face Argentina on Friday and then are away in Bolivia the following Tuesday. That means he will still be away long after the window closes.
As such, the Hammers target will be thousands of miles away when the window closes, making his signing highly complicated.
Therefore, West Ham are unlikely to be able to put the striker through the extensive medical checks needed before signing him.
As a result, Hammers News doubts the prospects of the deal going through, claiming it looks ‘dead in the water’.
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