West Ham keen on Ben Brereton Diaz but major obstacle in the way

It is obvious that West Ham are desperate need to sign a striker in the January transfer window.

One of those interesting the Hammers is Blackburn man Ben Brereton Diaz, who could be available for around £20 million.

However, any potential buyer faces a major stumbling block as Blackburn are reluctant to let their star man go as they are chasing promotion to the Premier League.

West Ham’s potential deal to sign Ben Brereton Diaz could be off due to Blackburn’s promotion push.

At the moment, the Lancashire based side currently sit 3rd in the Championship, level on points with 2nd place Bournemouth.

West Ham boss, David Moyes, likes targeting the outstanding performers from the second division, see Said Benrahma and Jarrod Bowen therefore, Brereton Diaz fits the bill for the type of young and hungry player he likes. However, a January move now looks unlikely.

The Irons face a similar issue with defender Lloyd Kelly of Bournemouth, as well as teenage sensation Fabio Carvalho.

Perhaps, if Blackburn don’t get promoted, a summer move to London Stadium could be on the cards with West Ham eyeing potential loan deals due to the complexity of bringing in preferred targets mid-season.

There are multiple players in France’s Ligue 1 that the Hammers are keeping tabs on who could potentially arrive on loan, these would be centre-backs and strikers.

But back to Brereton Diaz, the Chilean’s contract does expire at the end of this campaign but Blackburn have the option of an extension so aren’t concerned about losing him on a free transfer over the summer.

The 22-year-old’s potential move has split opinion amongst the West Ham fan base. Despite scoring an incredible 20 goals in 27 league games so far in 2021/22, he managed just seven in the previous year. There is no doubting he has been in fine goalscoring form and still improving as a young player but there are concerns he could be a “one season wonder” and that he hasn’t done it consistently for a long enough period.

If West Ham are looking for a more proven player, Brereton Diaz’s compatriot Alexis Sanchez has been remarkably linked with a move to East London, however, this seems to go completely against Moyes’ philosophy of signing players with their best years ahead of them and having sell-on value.

With Brereton Diaz off the table, according to reliable source @ExWHUemployee, a deal is “there to be done” for Czech prospect Adam Hlozek.