Aston Villa and Wolves ‘must act now’ as West Ham ‘close in’ on 15-goal attacker.
West Ham United are reportedly near to completing the signing of an Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers target.
The Hammers are claimed to be moving closer to acquiring the services of Vitoria Guimaraes attacker Jota Silva, who scored 15 goals in 42 appearances across all competitions throughout the 2023/24 season.
The 24-year-old, two times a senior international for Portugal, has gained the attention of teams across Europe following the best top-flight campaign of his career so far. Fellow Portuguese side Benfica are keen, while Villa and Wolves have both been linked over recent months.
Portuguese journalist Sebastiao Sousa Pinto reports West Ham have moved ahead of other clubs in the race after activating Jota’s release clause of €20 million (£17 million). The likes of Villa and Wolves must act now if they want to stand any chance of a hijack.
Jota is said to be readying himself to depart VSC this summer, two years after arriving from second-tier outfit Casa Pia for a mere fee of €190,000 (£161,500). The left winger, who can also play on the right flank or as an out-and-out centre-forward, is seeking a long-term contract.
Unai Emery’s transfer desire rings clear
It’s becoming more and more obvious as the weeks go by that Unai Emery is desperate to add another forward option to his ranks at Villa Park. The Spaniard appears to desire a versatile player, capable of taking on defenders but also competent at picking out the corners of the net.
Jota Silva (left) fights for the ball with Benfica’s Portuguese defender Antonio Silva (right).
Jota Silva (left) fights for the ball with Benfica’s Portuguese defender Antonio Silva (right).
Although Silva would fit that bill, Emery is likely to assess plenty more choices before committing to just one. As a result, West Ham stand a rather good chance of securing their man — even without the promise of Champions League football. Wolves? Well, they need to get a wriggle on and the funds aren’t yet there to do so.
