West Ham United are plotting a summer bid for promising Middlesbrough attacker Isaiah Jones.
According to The Athletic, Premier League side West Ham United are keeping tabs on Middlesbrough winger Isaiah Jones in the ongoing 2022 summer transfer window.
The 22-year-old joined the Riverside club from semi-professional side Tooting and Mitcham United in 2019 and has since steadily made a name for himself in the English second division. Jones has made 48 appearances for Middlesbrough, scoring once and assisting nine more.
All but one of his senior caps for the Championship side and all of his goal involvements came in the 2021/22 campaign. This would indicate a rising influence on the 22-year-old’s status at the club. It would appear that Jones’ performances have caught the attention of West Ham, who are today a resurgent force under David Moyes.
Blessed with pace and dribbling skills, Jones has the potential to become a mainstay in the Premier League, provided he receives the correct guidance. West Ham are in the market for a pacy winger, and the youngster certainly fits the bill.
Primarily a right-winger, he is also capable of playing on the other wing or as a wing-back. A dominant force on the flanks on his day, Jones put in a sensational shift in Middlesbrough’s stunning win over Tottenham Hotspur in last season’s FA Cup. He could be available for as little as £15 million and could provide the Hammers with sensational value for money.
Jarrod Bowen is the Hammers’ first choice in the right-wing spot, and it is difficult to see anyone displace him at the moment. The Englishman was West Ham’s best player last season, and also ended the campaign as the club’s top goal and assist getter.
But with Andriy Yarmolenko departing as a free agent, Moyes and West Ham United could use depth in the position, making Jones a viable target. The 22-year-old could also slot in on the left flank where Said Benrahma is the Irons’ lone senior specialist and could do with some competition.
The lack of a reliable alternative to Michail Antonio up front has seen Moyes deploy Bowen as a striker at times. Signing Jones will also permit the Hammers to use that particular tactic to great effect. The 22-year-old’s versatility can be a welcome addition to the London club’s roster. Whether West Ham take their interest a step further and make an approach for Jones remains to be seen.
