West Ham table sensational £25million bid for Premier League duo - Sky

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Published on:

16 May 2016, 4:59 pm

By London correspondent Tony Hughes

West Ham have tabled a stunning £25million bid for Bournemouth pair Callum Wilson and Matt Richie, according to Sky Sports News.

The London club made a formal move for striker Wilson and winger Richie as they step up plans to strengthen their squad this summer.

Sky Sports News claimed on Monday night that Bournemouth have no interest in offloading the pair and they are not for sale.

It is unclear how West Ham individually value Wilson, 24, and Richie, 26, but the size of the double bid is an early demonstration of the club's ambition this summer.

Wilson has missed most of this season with a cruciate ligament injury but he served notice of his potential with five goals in 12 Premier League matches, while Richie has been one of Bournemouth's leading performers with four goals and six assists from 36 top flight games.

News of West Ham's stunning double offer comes a week after co-chairman David Sullivan claimed the club had made a £23.8million bid for a player on the Continent and were also preparing to make a second, £20million-plus bid for a Premier League-based player.

"We hope to bring in one or two top players," Sullivan told Sky Sports News HQ on Monday of last week. "The Olympic Stadium gives us about £12million a year of extra income.

"We put a bid in today for €30million for a player and other bids are going in. We're going to be making a £20- £25million bid for a player in England later this week.

"Whatever happens we intend to bring a top striker in."

Asked if West Ham would be spending £50million on two players, Sullivan told Sky Sports News: "No, one or the other." Asked for a name, Sullivan replied, "I can't give you a name, we're not close enough."

Sullivan's comments make it clear that West Ham are ready to smash their club record transfer fee of £15.5million, which was spent to entice Andy Carroll from Liverpool in the summer of 2013.

Carroll is comfortably the Hammers' record signing, although the club have also spent £10million-plus fees on the likes of Payet, Enner Valencia and Angel Ogbonna.

In other West Ham news, co-chairman David Gold has spoken boldly of where the club can finish next season if they strengthen their squad this summer.

West Ham United

Bournemouth

Callum Wilson