So it seems as though Colombian winger Jhon Arias could very well be West Ham United bound this summer.
Jhon Arias is someone who has been linked with West Ham already this summer, and the East London outfit actually made a bid for him last month.
Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui is desperately searching for attacking reinforcements this summer, preferably those with rapid pace amongst their arsenal.
West Ham have an abundance of left-footed forwards, including Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus and Luis Guilherme.
However, Arias is right-footed, and that’s why he could be such a game-changer for the Hammers.
His brilliant performances for Colombia at the Copa America out in the United States have really caught the eye.
It’s clear to see that he could make a really big difference for the Hammers, but what’s the current state of play regarding our hopes of signing him?
West Ham to make bid for ‘incredible’ winger Jhon Arias
The Athletic recently described Arias as Colombia’s danger man and labelled him as an ‘incredible’ player.
And now he could be London Stadium bound.
According to a report from Canal RCN, Lopetegui has every intention of bringing Arias to the London Stadium for around €16 million (£13.6 million).
However, there is a big problem for West Ham. Firstly, Atletico Madrid and Lopetegui’s former club Sevilla want to sign the Colombia international as well.
Secondly, Brazilian side Fluminense might raise their asking price for Arias, with so much interest in his services.
Let’s hope that West Ham manage to win the race for the talented South American attacker.
The 26-year-old would be a fantastic signing for the Hammers, I know that much.
Arias possesses blistering pace, and plays with a certain kind of directness that we really lack right now.
He has bagged 35 goals and 38 assists in 168 appearances for Fluminense, and he has seven goals and four assists to his name in 27 games so far this season.
Because of Arias’s rapid speed and low centre of gravity, he’s incredibly hard to dispossess.
What makes him different from the other attackers we have at the club is the fact that he’s right-footed and plays on the right! He would provide Lopetegui with a completely different option in the final third.
West Ham signing Jhon Arias for just £13.6 million this summer would be a fantastic deal for the club.
However, it remains to be seen whether Fluminense are actually prepared to sell him for that kind of money, with numerous clubs set to enter into a bidding war for the winger.
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