West Ham United will reportedly have to fork out €70 million if they are to sign Sevilla’s in-demand attacker Lucas Ocampos.
According to a report from Superdeporte, West Ham United have been slapped with a €70 million price tag for Lucas Ocampos. The Sevilla star has emerged as one of the club’s top attacking targets in the summer, but it appears the Spanish giants have no intention of letting the Argentine international go on a cut-price deal.
The report suggests Sevilla are holding out for Ocampos’s release clause worth €70 million. They are even keen on increasing the value of the release clause to €90 million but are willing to part ways with the attacker in the summer if any club match the €70 million figure.
Formerly of Marseille, Ocampos has enjoyed immense success since joining Sevilla in 2019. In 126 competitive appearances for the club, the Argentine attacker has racked up 34 goals and 13 assists. His productivity in the final third has played a critical role in Sevilla’s rise to prominence under the leadership of Julen Lopetegui.
With just six goals in 24 appearances this term, the Argentine has not been able to hit the heights of previous campaigns. But he continues to play a key role for the team and is ahead of Anthony Martial in the pecking order. The Frenchman had joined the club on a loan deal in January, but he is set to return to Manchester United in the summer, with Sevilla having no interest in acquiring his services.
Nevertheless, Sevilla’s hefty valuation for Lucas Ocampos could serve as a massive blow for a West Ham side desperate for attacking reinforcements. The Hammers are indeed bracing themselves for an important summer ahead, with star player Jarrod Bowen being subjected to a move to Liverpool.
Ocampos could be an ideal replacement for the Englishman at West Ham as the 27-year-old is an explosive forward, who is more than capable of causing problems for the defence with his dribbling and dynamism in the final third. The Argentine international is versatile enough to operate on both flanks as well, making him a well-rounded option for West Ham.
But with Sevilla holding out for a hefty €70 million release clause, West Ham may have no option but to set their sights on other alternatives. The Hammers are in contention to sign Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen, while Arsenal forward Eddie Nketiah is another option for the Londoners.