Sources: Expected winner named as West Ham battle rivals for Brooke Norton-Cuffy
Genoa defender Brooke Norton-Cuffy is prepared to turn down an offer from West Ham this month in favour of securing a move elsewhere.
The likes of Everton and Newcastle have also been credited with an interest in the 22-year-old, whose performances in Serie A have impressed watching scouts.
As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast, Norton-Cuffy is keen to return to English football after leaving Arsenal in 2024.
The England Under-21 international has reservations about joining a club in a relegation battle and will assess other options should formal offers arrive.
Norton-Cuffy enjoyed loan spells at Lincoln, Rotherham, Coventry and Millwall before opting to move to Italy, but could already be tempted back to the Premier League.
West Ham dealt blow in Brooke Norton-Cuffy chase
Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness told Football Insider that Everton are interested in Norton-Cuffy and will make a decision before the end of the window.
Given the level of interest in the right-back, any move could spark a bidding war between multiple clubs who will look to bring him back to the Premier League.
However, West Ham look likely to miss out, while there are question marks about how high on their list he is given their current right-back options.
Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: “Yeah, I think he’s a player that’s proven himself over there in Italy with Genoa. He’s had a very good season for them in Serie A.
“I’m sure the player himself would love the opportunity to come back to England and show that he’s good enough to play in the Premier League.
“He came though the Arsenal ranks before joining Genoa in search of first-team football, and he’s had a quicker pathway there and done really well.
“That’s why we’re getting this interest from the likes of Newcastle, Everton and even West Ham.
“I would imagine West Ham is probably down the pecking order of clubs interested.
“They’re quite well stocked at right back and again the player might not be that keen on a move to a club in a relegation fight.
“I’m sure it’s something that the player himself would love that opportunity to come back to the Premier League, having not really had the opportunity at Arsenal to make a name for himself.
“I’m sure if one of those interested clubs firm up their interest, it’s something that the player could be interested in.”
West Ham set sights on Championship midfield duo
Alongside Norton-Cuffy, West Ham are hoping to strengthen in a number of key positions this month, with a new midfielder also on their radar.
Brown told Football Insider on 20 January that West Ham are interested in Watford’s Imran Louza, who has impressed so far this season.
Watford are currently seventh in the Championship, but if they miss out on promotion come the end of the season, the 26-year-old is likely to move on.
Meanwhile, Football Insider exclusively revealed on 19 January that West Ham scouts are watching Hayden Hackney with a potential move in mind for the Middlesbrough star.
Hackney‘s current contract at Middlesbrough is set to run until 2027, and there is a growing feeling they could allow his departure for the right price.
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