West Ham United will reportedly look to sign 26-year-old striker Taiwo Awoniyi from fellow Premier League club Nottingham Forest this summer.
According to Daniel Taylor during a Q&A session on The Athletic, Taiwo Awoniyi is the subject of interest from West Ham United. The Hammers have reignited their interest in the 26-year-old and will look to prise him away from their fellow Premier League club, Nottingham Forest.
Taiwo Awoniyi and his journey thus far
Taiwo Awoniyi has been an exceptional performer since returning to the Premier League by joining Nottingham Forest from Union Berlin in July 2022. A native of Ilorin, he spent most of his formative years in his homeland. The Nigerian striker’s first foray into Europe came with Liverpool, joining the Merseyside club in August 2015.
However, the 26-year-old could not establish a foothold in the first-team squad at Anfield and embarked on multiple loan spells away from Liverpool before completing a permanent move to Union Berlin. Two impressive campaigns with Union Berlin brought him back to the Premier League, and Awoniyi has made his mark at City Ground.
2023/24 was a frustrating campaign for Awoniyi due to a few fitness issues. So, he managed only 1,194 minutes of game time across 23 appearances in all competitions, chipping in with six goals and three assists. Meanwhile, the Nigerian international’s stock remains high, with West Ham United interested in signing him in the summer transfer window.
Move across Premier League on the horizon?
West Ham United’s interest in Taiwo Awoniyi is understandable. The Hammers are scouring the market for a striker heading into the summer transfer window, with Michail Antonio and Danny Ings on the wrong side of 30. The latter, in particular, is no longer a dependable figure and will likely leave West Ham this summer.
Several candidates, including Victor Boniface, have thus emerged on West Ham’s radar. However, Boniface’s compatriot Awoniyi is also a viable target due to his experience in the Premier League with Nottingham Forest.
With the Hammers reigniting their interest in the 26-year-old striker, it will be interesting to see how much Nottingham Forest will demand to part ways with him in the summer transfer window. However, a move to West Ham might be on the cards.
