Striker rumour wide of the mark

Fresh reports that West Ham could sign Moussa Marega for £36.6m before the summer transfer window ends are completely wide of the mark. Portuguese newspaper ABolo has again suggested the Hammers could still move for the 28-year-old Mail international striker in the next week.  The FC Porto frontman has a contract until 2021 with a €40m termination clause.

There is no doubt that Marega was on Pellegrini’s long list of striker options earlier this summer but the signing of Sebastien Haller effectively ended that interest as the Hammers don’t have £36m left in their transfer budget and Marega is unlikely to want to sit on the bench and play second fiddle to Haller.

With seven days remaining of the summer transfer window, all remains quiet although another addition to the squad can’t be ruled out at this stage.

With Javier Hernandez and Michail Antonio as back up to Haller, many supporters are hoping that Pellegrini brings in another striker in the next week after the loss of Andy Carroll, Lucas Perez and Marko Arnautovic.