West Ham United are looking to pry away Scott Arfield from Burnley whose contract with the club is set to run out in another six months. The 29-year-old has been offered an extension amid talks of a £2m transfer.
Club manager, Sean Dyche was quoted, “We have had talks with him and he has sat tight on an offer so we will keep an open mind and we will see what comes next. Scott knows where it all stands and he knows the club’s situation. He’s been a very, very good player for us and he continues to be. Every player has a right to decide what their thoughts are.”
Burnley are currently flying through their first season in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship. Their Boxing Day 2-2 draw against Manchester United is a testament of the success they have enjoyed so far into the season.
Sitting in the 7th spot of the points table, Sean Dyche is quietly competing against the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham and Leicester City for a European qualification spot.
However, their 1-2 loss to Liverpool in their opening game of the year opened up a five-point gap behind Arsenal with a menacing Leicester City closing in on them.
Arfield’s efforts have greatly reflected on Burnley’s successful campaign ever since his arrival. He has registered 190 appearances for the club so far and has the netted the ball 22 times along with 12 assists. He has mostly featured in the left wing under Dyche but is capable of appearing more centrally.
David Moyes has openly stated his dissatisfaction with the balance of the West Ham team. Stacked with more than four strikers and a lack of options in the midfield area, the former Manchester United manager is looking for quality additions to make in the coming weeks.
West Ham’s season started off on a rocky start under Slaven Bilic, and the Hammers are currently facing the consequences. Moyes’s appointment has added a bit of stability to the side but they are still in danger of being relegated by the end of the season.
A resolute display against Tottenham Hotspur last week earned them a 1-1 draw at Wembley and boosted them up to the 15th spot of the league table, two points clear from the bottom three.
Dyche has just signed Georges-Kevin N’Koudou on a short-term loan and might select him for the remainder of the season ahead of the experienced Arfield. The Hammers can offer him an escape without really breaking the bank on the deal.
