By Spy Uganda
West Ham United have reportedly tabled a £15m bid for Arsenal forward Reiss Nelson but face competition from newly promoted Leicester City, according to the Mirror.
Julen Lopetegui and Tim Steidten are eager to strengthen West Ham’s left-wing position this summer, following the departures of Said Benrahma and Pablo Fornals in the January transfer window. This forced David Moyes to play Mohammed Kudus or Lucas Paqueta in that role.
Lopetegui wants to bring in a more natural left-sided attacker, and Reiss Nelson could be the solution. The South Londoner has been linked with a move to East London throughout the summer, and it now appears to be heating up.
According to reports, a £15m bid has been submitted by the Hammers. However, this is unlikely to meet Arsenal’s valuation, as they have reportedly set a £25m price tag on their academy product.
It is unlikely that either West Ham or Leicester City would match that price for a player who played just 257 minutes of Premier League football this term. Arsenal are keen to raise funds this summer, with Nelson being one of three Hale End academy graduates who could be sold for pure profit, the other two being Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah, who has also been linked with a move to the London Stadium.
If Arsenal are serious about selling Nelson, they will likely have to consider offers in the range of £15-20m. At 24 years old, many might have expected him to be younger due to his limited first-team appearances. Since making his Arsenal debut in the 2017 Community Shield, he has played just 146 first-team matches: 89 for Arsenal, 29 for Hoffenheim, and 32 for Feyenoord.
However, it hasn’t gone to plan since, starting just one game in the two seasons that followed. It’s now time for Nelson to leave his boyhood club, and West Ham could be an excellent destination for him.
Reports suggest Nelson has already agreed personal terms with the Hammers and is keen on linking up with players like Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Paqueta, and fellow Englishman Jarrod Bowen. A proper left-winger could significantly benefit West Ham’s attack, making this move potentially beneficial for both parties.
