West Ham United are reportedly plotting a blockbuster £60 million transfer for Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
According to The Sun, West Ham United are weighing up a sensational swoop for Everton hitman Dominic Calvert-Lewin after being alerted of the English starlet’s availability. The Toffees are apparently open to listening to bids for their prized assets as they look to balance their books after years of over-spending.
The Hammers are in contention for a spot in the Champions League this term and are currently sitting fifth in the Premier League. However, consecutive defeats to Leeds United and Manchester United have not helped their case. To improve their European prospects, David Moyes aims to raid his former club Everton for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to solve the long-standing striker problem.
The Sheffield United academy product signed for Everton back in 2016 and had his breakthrough campaign the following year under Ronald Koeman. Since then, he has not looked back and has gradually established himself as one of the top strikers in the country and a prolific goalscorer at Premier League level, producing a tally of 16 goals from 33 top-flight games last term.
The 24-year-old has largely struggled for fitness this season and has been limited to only six league outings but has still managed to score three goals. His rapid rise to prominence also propelled him into Gareth Southgate’s England setup, where he is a regular backup to England captain and first-choice striker Harry Kane.
The England international has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal in the past. Still, the Gunners’ focus is very much on Serbian sensation Dusan Vlahovic and view the Englishman as an alternative than a priority. Now, West Ham, after the cash injection of Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, have emerged as surprise suitors, with the report suggesting Moyes would go all out for Calvert-Lewin this month.
West Ham’s hunt for a new striker ever since the departure of Sebastian Haller has been well-documented. Michail Antonio has been productive in the attacking third of the pitch and became the Hammers’ record goalscorer in the English top-flight earlier this season. However, the Jamaican carries the pressure of being the sole front-man at the club and looked leggy in recent matches, scoring just twice in his last 14 league matches.
The Hammers could make do by signing someone of Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s pedigree. The Englishman would not only share the workload with Antonio, but his distinctive aerial qualities mean he could form a lethal attacking duo. Moreover, at just 24 years old, he would be a long-term fix for David Moyes’s side.
Calvert-Lewin is contracted at Goodison Park until the summer of 2025 and is reportedly valued at around £60 million by current club Everton. The asking price would smash West Ham’s record transfer fee standing at £45 million spent on Sebastien Haller in 2019, with the Hammers looking to pounce on the turmoil in the blue half of the Merseyside.
Should the Everton board sanction a move for Calvert-Lewin, things might turn from bad to worse for the Everton faithful, who have already lost trust in the club’s hierarchy. With Arsenal also considering a late move, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for the 24-year-old.