West Ham increase offer for 20-year-old to £9m as release clause doesn’t apply to them

 

Now back from international duty, Henry Onyekuru can fully concentrate on choosing his next club after weeks of speculation surrounding his future.

Arsenal were said to have had a bid accepted, but that appears to have gone quiet, and OwnGoalNigeria now claim West Ham are pushing hard to get a deal done for the Nigerian starlet.

According to the website, the Hammers’ £7m offer was rejected, as his £6.5m release clause is only valid for Belgian sides, but Slaven Bilic has since come back with an improved bid of around £9m.

KAS Eupen are said to want around that amount from clubs outside of Belgium, as they know they have more money, but are fully prepared to sell to Anderlecht if they don’t get anything matching their demands.

The Belgian champions are said to be ‘fully assured’ Onyekuru will join them if nothing from abroad tickles his fancy, and will happily pay the £6.5m to trigger his release clause.

If the new bid is accepted, West Ham will firmly be in the driving seat, even if Eupen would rather see their star go to Anderlecht, feeling the London club isn’t as prestigious.

Then it’s all about the wages, and we all know the Hammers will be able to offer him more.