Agbonlahor shares verdict on £35m Youssef En-Nesyri deal as West Ham prepare for four exits
Gabby Agbonlahor has claimed a striker is not the “priority” for West Ham as they reportedly reignite interest in Sevilla star Youssef En-Nesyri.
The former Aston Villa striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, suggested funds should be set aside with “decisions to make” on the future of key players like Vladimir Coufal, Craig Dawson, Tomas Soucek, and Aaron Cresswell in the summer.
According to the Daily Mail (9 January), West Ham are interested in taking En-Nesyri on loan for the rest of the season – with an option to buy set for around £20-25million.
However, the report claims Sevilla are holding out for a set fee closer to £30-35million – their asking price when the Irons came knocking for the striker in 2021.
West Ham have already spent a reported fee of £35.5million on Gianluca Scamacca this season but he has managed just three Premier League strikes.
David Moyes’ side sit 17th in the top flight and are out of the drop zone by virtue of goal difference.
Agbonlahor told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “I don’t think West Ham need to be buying players at the moment.
“They’re in a transition period at the moment. They’ve been in Europe two seasons in a row, but they’re not going to do it this season.
“What they’ve got in the door is enough to stay up. They can then look at the squad in the summer and get rid of the players who aren’t good enough.
“Players like Coufal, Dawson, Cresswell, Soucek – there are going to be decisions to make on all of those players.
“I just don’t think a striker should be a priority for them right now. Scamacca and Antonio are good enough to get them through to the end of the season.”
In other news, expert claims Gianluca Scamacca is “letting his manager down” amid “terrible” West Ham development.