West Ham United have lodged a formal bid for Lorient striker Terem Moffi, who has been excelling in Ligue 1 this season.
What’s the word?
Irons manager David Moyes will be gravely concerned by the detrimental plummet in his team’s fortunes in 2022/23, having clinched European qualification in the previous two campaigns, and is consequently looking to bolster the squad with signings who can make an instant impact to stave off the unthinkable threat of relegation.
The 23-year-old has been at the centre of intense speculation over his future having been in blistering form this season, with the Hammers’ Premier League rivals Aston Villa also expressing intrigue in clinching Moffi’s signature last month, as per French outlet Jeunes Footeux.
According to Sky Sports on Sunday evening, Moyes has submitted an official bid of £25m (£20m plus £5m in add-ons) to land a new talisman who can play a pivotal role in West Ham’s hopeful ascension up the table, back towards prominence and away from the uncomfortable relegation zone waters.
Payet 2.0
Over the past two seasons, West Ham have been an imperious force in the English top flight, establishing themselves as one of the most impressive teams in the division and indeed reaching the Europa League semi-finals last year, falling to eventual trophy winners Eintracht Frankfurt.
This season, however, form and fluidity has flown away like a bird freed from a cage, and Moyes is a man under pressure, potentially at risk of losing his place at the helm.
In order to combat the woes of sitting 18th with just 15 points from 19 league games, the prospective addition of Moffi could provide the cutting edge required to alleviate relegation concerns. Gianluca Scamacca was signed from Sassuolo for £35.5m last summer but has so far failed to make the desired impact, scoring only three goals from 16 league appearances.
In the “deadly” Moffi – as hailed by Jacques Talbot – West Ham would clinch a striker with an innate goalscoring knack, bringing pace and physicality in abundance.
Would Terem Moffi succeed at West Ham?
Yes
No
This season alone, he has scored 12 goals from 18 appearances in Ligue 1 – more than Lionel Messi and second only to Kylian Mbappe – and has recorded an impressive average rating of 7.05 from Sofascore. He has averaged 1.9 shots per match and exhibited his ambidexterity by netting seven goals with his left foot and four with his right.
Averaging 0.5 key passes per game, and succeeding with 61% of his dribbles, Moffi is evidently a dynamic frontline presence who could sow the seeds for a fruitful future at the London Stadium.
His impact in east London, if he joins the Irons, could emulate the success of Dimitri Payet, who arrived at West Ham in a £10m deal in 2015.
The French playmaker went to make 60 appearances for the Hammers, scoring 15 goals and 23 assists. He was a force of true originality, captivating the Irons’ faithful and imperative in establishing a period of success for the club, recording a seventh-placed finish in his debut campaign, ending just four points behind Manchester City in fourth.
With both players two-footed, arriving from Ligue 1 and holding the offensive calibre to make a lingering impact on the side, Moffi can indeed draw upon inspiration from the ingenious 35-year-old, taking the reins and hopefully leading West Ham to better times.
If Moyes wishes to propel both his club’s future and secure his own at the London Stadium, it is imperative that a deal to sign the Nigerian sensation is cemented. West Ham are languishing in the bottom three, but Moffi’s prowess could have the talismanic effect necessary to lift the Hammers back towards Premier League prominence.
