West Ham tipped to use Declan Rice funds to poach 37-goal Arsenal target as Moyes plots ambitious move

West Ham United are preparing to rival Arsenal for Villarreal forward Samuel Chukwueze this summer, according to reports. 

The Nigeria international has been top form in LaLiga, and the Premier League duo could allegedly face competition from Real Madrid.

Chukwueze would definitely be a big signing for West Ham, so it will be interesting to see if they can win the race for his signature.

According to CaughtOffside, the Hammers are firmly in the race for the attacker. They note that a bid of approximately £36m would be enough to secure his services.

With West Ham enduring a difficult campaign this season, bringing in some quality players could help turn their form around next term.

However, David Moyes’ recent signings, such as Gianluca Scamacca and Lucas Paqueta – have generally struggled to acclimatise to the Premier League, so the manager will be hoping Chukwueze can have a more positive impact.

First, though, the London club will have to secure their Premier League survival, with the Hammers currently sitting six points above the drop zone.

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West Ham set to battle Arsenal for Chukwueze

Since breaking into the Villarreal first team in 2018, Chukwueze has made 199 appearances across all competitions, scoring 37 goals and making 31 assists. This gives him an average of 0.34 goal contributions per game.

A versatile player, the 23-year-old has the ability to play as a winger on either flank, or as an attacking midfielder. With that in mind, he could provide cover in multiple positions for Moyes.

However, as mentioned, Arsenal are also thought to be in the race for his signature.

Mikel Arteta is allegedly looking to bolster his frontline ahead of next term, as he prepares for the challenges of Champions League football.

Chukwueze is a young player, so he has potential to get even better than he already is.

The Nigerian’s current contract will expire in June 2024. As a result, Villarreal are likely sell him this summer, while they can still get a decent return for his services.

West Ham could also use the funds from any sale of Declan Rice to help with securing a deal for Chukwueze.

Rice is, ironically, being heavily linked with a move to Arsenal, as well as Newcastle, Chelsea and Man City, with the Hammers likely to recieve a fee in the region of £75m for him.

If Moyes wants to ensure that West Ham climb back up the Premier League table  without Rice next term, bringing in Chukwueze would be a great start.

Although, the London club will probably have to make a lot more than just one signing. So, they will definitely be a team to watch in the upcoming transfer window.

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