Striker Rafiu Durosinimi, who has been strongly linked with a move to West Ham, would be required to undergo an extensive medical at the London Stadium before the club agree to pay the reported £12 million fee demanded by Viktoria Plzen.
Standing at 6ft 4in, the Nigerian forward draws comparisons to former West Ham signing Demba Ba who, as football agent Barry Silkman revealed to C&H, failed several medicals at other clubs before eventually joining West Ham during the January 2011 window.
Durosinimi, still only 22, suffered a double ACL rupture in late 2023 that kept him out for 437 days and forced him to miss 66 matches.
The injury also led to the collapse of a potential €6.5 million transfer to Eintracht Frankfurt. He underwent surgeries in January and March 2024 before finally returning to action in February 2025.
Since his comeback, he has rediscovered his scoring touch and attracted interest from several EFL sides, including Hull City, Huddersfield Town and Derby County. Yet his stock has risen with VFB Stuttgart now registering an interest in the player alongside West Ham.
Although the move carries significant risk for West Ham, their current league position and need for a physical target man may push them toward completing the deal—provided Durosinimi’s medical doesn’t uncover any potential long term issues.
There also remains a difference between West Ham’s valuation and that of the club who are still holding out for top money with little time remaining on his contract.
Can not believe we are going to loan out Marshall. Hope it is only a loan not like Korda who now Luton are going to buy very cheaply
Crazy
Is Carlton Cole still fit?
If you want the player at the start of the window you pay the price. How much could he gain or lose us if we wait 31 days ?
£12m is less than we spent on Danny Ings, a fraction of what we spent on Fullkrug pay the money do the medical and get the player in asap if he is the chosen one and get Vipotnik too as we need more than one.
So once again we are going after a striker with known injury issues.
It’s pathetic. For goodness sake stick the UNINJURED youngsters in who are full of energy and will give 100% to earn the shirt.
We need to gamble so if he were to turn out anywhere near as good as Demba Ba then he would be great
2 cruciates though jeeeeees!
Is it not a pre requisite that any striker we sign , must have a poor history with his physical fitness? Must be cheap and reconditioned….
It is, Sullivan insists on it. Fullkrug, Carroll, Demba Ba, Antonio, Wilson, Haller, Valencia the list goes on if they are the ones that only lasted a shorter period.