West Ham to surely accelerate January move for assist machine after admission
West Ham are surely set to accelerate a deal to sign Utrecht left-back Souffian El-Karouani after he revealed that he would be open to joining them next month.
West Ham are lining up deals for numerous positions in January as they aim to move up the Premier League table and away from a relegation battle.
A 3-0 loss to Man City last time out saw their winless run extended to six games, and they are now five points away from safety in 18th place as it stands.
El-Hadji Malick Diouf‘s departure to the Africa Cup of Nations and their lack of cover in the position has seen the Hammers register their interest in Utrecht left-back Souffian El Karouani [Daily Mail].
Marseille are also interested in El Karouani, but West Ham have made enquiries to sign the 25-year-old, and surely hold the upper hand after some new comments from the player himself.
El Karouani has hinted at wanting to join West Ham in January
El Karouani has played 9 times for Utrecht since a 2023 move from NEC, while he has made five appearances for the Moroccan national team in the last four years.
He has picked up an incredible 15 assists in 29 appearances across all competitions from left-back this season, while also chipping in with three goals.
The 25-year-old has already made an impression against an English club this season too, after he notched a fine assist in Utrecht’s 2-1 Europa League loss against Nottingham Forest earlier this month.
El Karouani would certainly be a strong addition to Nuno Espirito Santo’s ranks in January as they eye competition for Diouf on the left flank, and he admitted that he could make the move to East London soon in a recent interview with RTV Utrecht.
When asked if he may be on his way to the London Stadium, he said: “(I) could just be. It’s a great club. My agent goes to work for me. I’ll wait. By the way, I do look back on a wonderful year in Utrecht.”
The Hammers now look to be front-runners to sign El Karouani, and Utrecht are sure to be open to agreeing a deal, considering his contract at the club is set to expire next summer with no signs of an extension being agreed as yet.
West Ham prioritising a striker addition as Niclas Fullkrug deal accepted
While they do need left-back competition, Nuno’s main January aim for West Ham will be to sign a new striker who can fire them to safety this season.
Niclas Fullkrug has been linked with an exit for months now after a poor start to the campaign, and fresh reports have revealed that an agreement has now been reached for him to join AC Milan on loan in the new year.
His impending departure will pave the way for a new addition, with Football Insider recently revealing that West Ham are interested in Josh Sargent after some impressive form in the Championship.
Swansea’s Zan Vipotnik is also a target for the Irons, and the fact that they are the third-lowest top-flight scorers this season shows that a new striker is a must-buy before any other position in the January window.