West Ham are focused on adding quality strikers to the squad as their current forwards continue to struggle with recurring injury problems, the Premier League club’s joint-chairman David Gold has said.
Strikers Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho scored a combined eight league goals last campaign as they were plagued with injuries.
“It’s clear to most fans that we are desperate for centre-forwards... Andy Carroll is injury-prone as we know, we have had an injury problem with Sakho and we have just got to bring in centre-forwards,” Gold said
“You have to spend your money wisely but it must be on strikers, particularly strikers that have had experience with Premier League football... the very best we can afford.”
Huddersfield break transfer record
Huddersfield Town have signed midfielder Aaron Mooy for a club record 10 million pounds ($12.99 million) fee from Manchester City.
The 26-year-old Australia international was on a season-long loan spell at Huddersfield last season and played in their playoff final win over Reading, which secured them a place in the English top flight after a 45-year absence.
“Everybody who has watched our team in our promotion season knows how huge it is to have Aaron back at the Club as we enter the Premier League for the first time,” Huddersfield manager David Wagner said in a statement.
Bournemouth bring in Ake
Bournemouth have signed Netherlands defender Nathan Ake from Premier League champions Chelsea for an undisclosed club record fee, the south coast club confirmed yesterday.
The 22-year-old made just 17 appearances for Chelsea since joining in 2011 and spent the first half of last season on loan at Bournemouth, where he scored three goals in 12 appearances, before being recalled by the London club in January.
“I had a great time here last season so I’m really happy to be back,” Ake said.
“It’s an exciting challenge... this is a new step and the right place for me to develop even more.”
Swansea’s Llorente breaks his arm
Swansea City’s Spanish striker Fernando Llorente has fractured a bone in his lower arm while cycling on a family holiday, the Premier League club said.
The Welsh club added that while it was not a serious break and does not require surgery, the 32-year-old’s pre-season training would have to be tailored around the injury.
“The club remain optimistic that he will be available for selection for the first game of the Premier League against Southampton on Saturday, August 12,” the club said.
Llorente, a member of Spain’s triumphant 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 squads where he won the Europa League.
Zidane Jr completes Alaves switch
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane’s 22-year-old son Enzo has left the European champions to join Alaves.
The former France under-19 midfielder, who came through the Madrid club’s academy, has signed a three-year deal with the La Liga side, who came ninth last season.
He scored on his only first-team appearance for Real Madrid in their King’s Cup win over Cultural Leonesa last season.
Enzo played 78 games for Real Madrid Castilla, the club’s reserve team, scoring seven goals.
Belhanda moves to Galatasaray
Galatasaray have announced the signing of Dynamo Kiev midfielder Younes Belhanda in a deal believed to be worth eight million euros.
The 27-year-old was on loan with Nice last season and helped Lucien Favre’s side secure Champions League qualification after they finished third in Ligue 1, contributing three goals and six assists in 31 appearances.
Belhanda, a Morocco international, has signed a four-year contract at the Turkish Super Lig club and becomes manager Igor Tudor’s third signing of the summer, alongside former Swansea striker Bafetimbi Gomis and ex-Porto defender Maicon.