Transfer Centre

West Ham United, Crystal Palace interested in January move for Hugo Ekitike?

By Ben Sully | 17 September 2023

West Ham, Crystal Palace interested in January move for Ekitike?

Premier League duo West Ham United and Crystal Palace are reportedly considering whether to launch a January move for Paris Saint-Germain striker Hugo Ekitike.

West Ham United and Crystal Palace are reportedly interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain forward Hugo Ekitike in January.

After spending last season on loan from Reims, Ekitike joined PSG on a permanent transfer after an obligation-to-buy option was triggered in his original loan deal.

Despite signing a four-year contract with the French champions, Ekitike was linked with a move away from the French capital prior to the summer transfer deadline.

While a departure failed to materialise, a recent report claimed that the 21-year-old is expected to leave the club in January after being deemed surplus to requirements.

Ekitike has seemingly fallen down the pecking order following the arrivals of Randal Kolo Muani and Goncalo Ramos, who have joined the club from Eintracht Frankfurt and Benfica respectively.

West Ham United manager David Moyes on September 16, 2023 © Reuters

In addition to those two new additions, France international Kylian Mbappe can also play through the middle, leaving Luis Enrique well-stocked with centre-forwards.

Ekitike has only played eight minutes of football for PSG this season, and he has been left out of the squad for the club's last two matches against Lyon and Nice.

With a January exit on the cards, Football Insider are reporting that West Ham and Crystal Palace could reignite their interest when the winter transfer window opens.

The Hammers were in talks over a potential move during the summer, while Palace were also linked with Ekitike before the transfer window slammed shut on September 1.

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson before the match on July 19, 2023 © Reuters

West Ham can call upon the likes of Michail Antonio and Danny Ings as their forward options, but they are keen to bring in reinforcements following Gianluca Scamacca's departure.

The 24-year-old completed a permanent transfer to Atalanta BC last month just one year after joining West Ham from Sassuolo.

The Hammers failed to find a replacement for Scamacca, and they are now expected to bring in a new striker in January.

Palace, meanwhile, are also keen to strengthen in the final third after Wilfried Zaha left the club at the end of last season, before signing for Turkish giants Galatasaray on a free transfer.

Roy Hodgson currently has Jordan Ayew, Odsonne Edouard and Jean-Philippe Mateta at his disposal, although the latter was heavily linked with a departure in the summer.