West Ham are prepared to trigger Villarreal forward Arnaut Danjuma’s €40 million release clause this summer.
Arnaut Danjuma, 25, formerly of Bournemouth, thrived at Villarreal last season, registering 16 goals and four assists in 34 games across all competitions, impressing particularly in the Champions League. He is now attracting plenty of interest, with West Ham keen to bring him back to England.
The Hammers have moved quickly in the transfer window and added a couple of new players to their squad that finished in a Europa Conference League place. Goalkeeper Alphonse Areola has permanently joined from Paris Saint-Germain after spending the last season on loan at the London Stadium, while full-back Nayef Aguerd has arrived from FC Rennes.
A striker on West Ham’s agenda?
West Ham are aiming to be in the mix for the top European spots next season, but with clubs around them reinforcing their squads, David Moyes is wary of the club being left behind if they don’t act quickly in getting the top targets.
After strengthening the backline with the addition of Aguerd, Moyes has made signing a new striker the no.1 priority. The Hammers are yet to sign a replacement for Sebastien Haller since his departure back in January 2021, thus, leaving Michail Antonio to shoulder the burden of leading the line all by himself since.
Antonio had an overall poor last campaign, and keeping in mind his age and past injury record, it is imperative Moyes succeeds in getting a new striker this time around.
Arnaut Danjuma could represent a shrewd signing
Arnaut Danjuma was a star performer for Unai Emery’s Villarreal side after joining from Bournemouth last summer. He was a crucial cog in their attack, helping the Yellow Submarine reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.
The six-cap Netherlands international would add potency to West Ham’s attack, whilst rotating with Antonio. The 25-year-old’s versatility of being able to play on the left and as a secondary striker could make him a key part of an exciting West Ham side. He is a smart and quick forward who can be a tricky customer when running at defenders.
The Hammers must seriously consider the prospect of paying the release clause for Danjuma if he is willing to come here. At 25, the ex-Bournemouth man is still very young and adding him to an already exciting attack could be one of the best decisions Moyes could make. A huge summer awaits West Ham and Danjuma—after his solid season with Villarreal—is an opportunity that sounds too good to pass on.
