‘My sources tell me’ – Everton in pole position to beat West Ham to marquee signing
West Ham will push hard to beat their Premier League rivals to a marquee summer signing but Everton are better placed to get a deal done.
Graham Potter’s side are coming off the back of a challenging season, finishing 14th in the top-flight with just 43 points.
The Hammers are expected to undergo a big overhaul this summer as they look to compete higher up the table in the upcoming campaign.
So far this window West Ham have made just three signings, bringing in El Hadji Malick Diouf and Kyle Walker-Peters, as well as making Jean-Clair Todibo’s loan permanent.
However, Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that the Irons are now in the race for Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz.
‘West Ham have more money than Everton‘
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted that West Ham have more money to seal the signing of Luiz than the likes of Everton, thanks to the recent sale of Mohammed Kudus.
Luiz left Aston Villa to join Juventus just 12 months ago, but after a tough spell in Italy he is set for a move back to the Premier League this summer.
Wyness added that the Brazilian is leaning towards Everton, despite West Ham’s interest.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “In terms of Luiz, I think West Ham, given they got the Kudus deal over the line and they got a bit more money, will be prepared to go further than Everton in terms of getting it done. Although I do hear still strong rumours that there is interest from Everton.
“I think Luiz would be a great fit for West Ham. I think what goes in Everton’s favour is the fact, of course, that he was with Villa, and the Midlands and Northwest are still not London. I think he might prefer to be outside of London. From what I understand from my sources, that’s more of his leaning, but we’ll see.
“It’s one of those periods in the window right now when there is a lot of jockeying going on between clubs. What we’re seeing is a lot of clubs now sticking out for more money and getting it, and so that’s making things even slower as clubs seek to squeeze their opponents in the transfer window.”
West Ham set for three-man signing spree
Meanwhile, West Ham are working on three new signings despite being restricted by financial regulations, sources have told Football Insider.
The Hammers have had a difficult summer so far, and money is tight due to the need to abide by Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Sources say that despite the financial situation, West Ham are moving to add a striker to their ranks, as well as another goalkeeper following Lukas Fabianski’s departure.
Furthermore, Potter’s side are eager to bring in a replacement for Kudus, who joined Tottenham earlier this month (10 July).
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