West Ham are showing keen interest in signing Turkish winger Baris Alper Yilmaz during the summer transfer window.
The Hammers have already secured three signings, but more arrivals are expected in the coming weeks as Julen Lopetegui looks to add new faces.
Initially linked with Galatasaray winger Wilfried Zaha, West Ham now appear to have shifted their focus to his teammate Yilmaz.
According to Turkish outlet Sporx, the Hammers were impressed with Yilmaz’s performance during the Euro 2024 Championships.
While Galatasaray are reluctant to sell the 20-times capped Turkey international, West Ham are preparing to test their resolve with a £29 million bid for the 24-year-old winger.
Yilmaz is a versatile winger who can play across all forward positions. Although West Ham have already signed Luis Guilherme, he is primarily seen as a future prospect.
However, it may not be wise to sign a player solely based on his performance in an international tournament. Unless West Ham have thoroughly scouted Yilmaz, they should avoid spending recklessly based on his Euro 2024 performance alone.
Yilmaz impressed with his overall play in Euro 2024 but did not score during the tournament. Last season, he finished the Super Lig campaign with six goals and six assists in 37 appearances.
While West Ham have Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus, and Lucas Paqueta, adding more quality in attack can be beneficial. Paqueta’s future is uncertain, with Brazilian club Flamengo reportedly interested in signing him this summer.
Instead of spending heavily on wide players, West Ham should focus on signing a new striker. Danny Ings and Michail Antonio remain at the club, but the Hammers need a prolific goalscorer upfront.
