West Ham United have set their sights on Marseille striker Elye Wahi as Graham Potter aims to revitalize the squad during what has been a challenging Premier League season.
Currently sitting 14th in the table, West Ham are striving to recover from a difficult start under former manager Julen Lopetegui. Despite some improvement, Potter faces significant obstacles, including a spate of injuries, particularly in defense, which has hampered the team’s consistency. The January transfer window offers a critical opportunity to address these issues and bolster the squad.
Speaking on the club’s plans, Potter stated, “We’ve got challenges to fix—it’s why you often come into a club in January. We’re exploring internal options, but also keeping an eye on external possibilities.” While defensive reinforcements remain a priority, the Hammers are keeping tabs on promising attackers, with Wahi emerging as a key target.
The 22-year-old French forward has shown promise since joining Marseille from Lens last summer. He has made 13 league appearances this season, scoring three goals, following a successful stint at Lens where he netted nine times in 27 matches. Marseille invested £21.6 million, with an additional £4.2 million in add-ons, to secure his services.
Reports indicate that West Ham has submitted a loan-to-buy proposal, hoping to defer the full payment until the summer. However, Marseille is reportedly hesitant, preferring a more immediate sale to allow them to fund a suitable replacement.
The race to secure Wahi’s signature is competitive, with Bournemouth and Eintracht Frankfurt also expressing interest. Frankfurt is particularly keen, as they anticipate losing forward Omar Marmoush to Manchester City. This adds pressure on West Ham to act quickly if they hope to win the race for the talented striker.
Securing Wahi could provide the attacking spark West Ham needs to climb the table and achieve a more promising finish to the season.