Football
Exclusive: West Ham Target Sheff Utd's Gustavo Hamer as Kudus Nears Spurs Switch
Sheffield United's Gustavo Hamer is targeted by West Ham following the departure of Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham. The £20m midfielder is highly sought after for his creativity and goal-scoring abilities, making him an ideal replacement for Kudus. Hamer's desire to play at the highest level could see him make the move to London.
Sheffield United v Bristol City - Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Semi Final Second Leg by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA | Getty Images
Gustavo Hamer has emerged as a shock target for West Ham when Mohammed Kudus completes his move to Tottenham Hotspur, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
Kudus is expected to be unveiled as a Spurs player shortly after the two clubs agreed a £55m fee.
Graham Potter’s side are expected to invest a large portion of that money on recruiting a replacement and will consider Hamer, currently of Sheffield United, if the 28-year-old signals he is keen on the switch.
Although he will not force a move away from The Blades following their failure to win an immediate return to the Premier League, Hamer has made no secret of the fact he would prefer to be competing at the highest level next term.
After being beaten in the Championship play-off final by Sunderland, senior figures behind the scenes at Bramall Lane expect him to leave alongside Wolfsburg-bound Vini Souza.
The £20m they are expected to demand makes him an attractive proposition for clubs on the look-out for a creative attacking midfielder.
FINANCIAL FOOTING
With West ham determined to put themselves on a firm financial footing, that puts him firmly in Potter’s price bracket.
Kudus’ departure has upset West Ham fans, who are angered by the team’s decision to sell to one of their biggest rivals.
But a swoop for Hamer, widely regarded as the best player in the English Football League, would go a long way towards healing that rift and filling the void created by Kudus’ exit.
Previously of Coventry City, Hamer netted 10 times in less than 45 league outings for United last season, claiming eight assists in the process.
Perhaps even more significant for West Ham were his performances in the PL the year before, when he netted one five occasions despite United’s eventual relegation. Kudus also found the back of the net five times during the previous campaign.
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.