West Ham United are keeping tabs on Östersunds FK forward Saman Ghoddos. According to recent reports, the Hammers are among a whole host of clubs looking to seal a move for the Iran international following his eye-catching Europa League performances versus Arsenal. It is being reported that scouts from West Bromwich Albion, Leicester City, Southampton, West Ham and Brighton & Hove Albion have been tracking the player as he set up both goals in Ostersunds’ surprising 2-1 second leg victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday night in the Europa League.
Ghoddos put in an impressive performance which caught the eye in the first leg meeting between the two teams in Sweden earlier this month. His performance on the night won praise from Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who was quoted to have said, “Technically and tactically, I was impressed by him,”
The 24-year-old has found the back of the net four times while providing four assists in Ostersunds’ Europa League campaign this season, where they secured progression into the group stages of the competition via the qualifying rounds and to the surprise of many, qualified from the group stages to set up a date with Arsenal in the round-of-32.
It is understood that Ghoddos’ agent, Ferhat Cifici, was in London to witness Östersunds FK’s encounter with Arsenal and has confirmed reports that there was interest in the player, but he refused to disclose the teams who are chasing after his client’s signature. A number of European clubs have been alerted by Ghoddos’ rapid emergence with Celta Vigo and Hoffenheim also expressing interest in securing his services. Ostersunds are reportedly aware of the increasing interest in Ghoddos and are bracing themselves for offers when the summer transfer window opens at the end of the season.
West Ham United are currently struggling in the Premier League and find themselves in 16th place with just 8 league games remaining in this campaign. The Hammers are in dire need of some favourable results in the coming weeks following a woeful 3-0 home loss versus Burnley at the London Stadium on Saturday. It seems highly likely that they will be dragged into a relegation dogfight going into the final stretch of the season.
David Moyes’ men have struggled to score enough goals during the course of this season so the potential addition of a player of the calibre of Ghoddos will undoubtedly bolster their attacking options ahead of the new campaign.
It is expected that a fee in excess of £5m could be enough to prise Ghoddos away from Ostersunds FK after the club declined a January bid of the same value from Celta Vigo.
Ghoddos has featured in 14 matches for Östersunds FK this season, scoring 4 goals and creating 5 assists in all competitions. It remains to be seen what lies ahead in the future of the Iranian forward and whether the Hammers can succeed in luring him to ply his trade at the London Stadium this summer.
