Exclusive: Championship Golden Boot Favourite Žan Vipotnik on Radar of West Ham & Sunderland

West Ham and Sunderland are in the queue to sign Championship Golden Boot favourite Žan Vipotnik in the summer, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal. 

It is understood the Swansea City will cash in on their Slovenian hot shot in the highly likely scenario the Welsh side miss out on the play-offs and promotion. 

In doing so, they will make a tidy profit on the former Maribor marksman, who joined the Swans on a free transfer in 2024 from French outfit Bordeaux.

Vipotnik cost Bordeaux just over £2 million 12 months earlier, snubbing interest from the Black Cats and Celtic in the process.

But the in-form striker is now valued around £15 million after a goal-den second season at the Swansea.com Stadium.

That price tag has killed any further interest from Celtic for a player who has two and a half years left on his contract.

Topping The Scoring Charts

Vipotnik’s 16th league goal of the campaign earned Vitor Matos’ side a 1-0 home win over Bristol City on Saturday. The 23-year-old, however, has 19 in total for club and country.

Such numbers have attracted interest from top flight suitors. SportsBoom reported last month that Burnley were keen to add him to their ranks to boost their slim chances of retaining their Premier League status, and could reignite their interest in the summer. 

Now another Claret and Blue outfit retain interest despite recruiting Taty Castellanos and Pablo in the January transfer window.

Sunderland’s hunt is obvious. Only two teams, Wolves and Nottingham Forest, have netted fewer goals in the Premier League this season. Brian Brobbey is their top league scorer with just five.

And with interest from Serie A sides last month, the English sides can’t hedge their bets too long.

Vipotnik has been likened in style to another former Swansea striker, Viktor Gyökeres. The Swede managed one goal in 12 loan appearances for the Swans but five years later cost Arsenal £63 million!