How much money West Ham may have to pay Haji Wright or Josh Sargent in wages as Coventry, Norwich stars eyed | OneFootball

The Hammers have been linked with the Championship's two USMNT forwards

West Ham United have endured a dire start to the Premier League season, and are looking to make necessary changes to their squad in the upcoming January transfer window in order to give themselves the best possible chance of survival.

As such, it has emerged that two USMNT forwards who currently ply their trade in the Championship have been linked with a potential move to the London Stadium in the form of Coventry City hotshot, Haji Wright, and Norwich City's star finisher, Josh Sargent.

Such developments have also coincided with the fact that the Sky Blues and the Canaries could not have endured more contrasting starts to the second tier campaign themselves.

Indeed, the West Midlands outfit are currently leading the way in the Championship under ex-Hammers midfielder, Frank Lampard, having won 14 of their opening 21 encounters whilst scoring 52 goals in the meantime.

Meanwhile, Norwich have started to show the occasional green shoots of recovery under Philippe Clement, who replaced Liam Manning in the Carrow Road hotseat last month, with the Canaries registering recent back-to-back victories in East Anglia against Queens Park Rangers and Southampton for the first time since January. However, they are still three points adrift of safety with 21 league games remaining.

It is no great surprise, though, that the two American forwards continue to attract interest from clubs higher up the food chain, although the possibility of Coventry residing in a higher division than West Ham for the first time since 1993 next season cannot be ruled out whatsoever, with Nuno Espirito Santo's men also three points from safety at present after a 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon.

Regardless, there is still a great financial disparity between the Irons and the two Championship sides, and FLW has looked at the wages they may have to pay either Wright or Sargent should they move to East London.

Wright has scored eight league goals so far this season for the Sky Blues, having netted 36 goals in the Championship overall since his club-record £7.7m switch from Antalyaspor in July 2023 under Mark Robins.

The Los Angeles-born forward has been linked with a handful of moves away, although it was reported last month that the 27-year-old has no intention of leaving Coventry amid interest from Leeds United.

However, reports have now emerged that West Ham have targeted Wright and his CBS Arena teammate, Ellis Simms, whilst it has been claimed that the Sky Blues would demand between £15m and £20m for the 20-time international.

According to Capology, a site which ESTIMATES player earnings and contract lengths, Wright is earning a weekly wage of £25,000 per week in the West Midlands.

Despite being the club-record signing, this doesn't make him the stand-alone top earner on Doug King's payroll, instead sharing the honour with Luke Woolfenden, captain Matt Grimes and the aforementioned Simms.

Much like his compatriot, Sargent has been the subject of intense transfer interest for some time, with Wolfsburg denied the chance of seeing the Canaries frontman return to the Bundesliga after seeing a €19m summer bid rejected.

With his own interest from Leeds - which would spark a reunion with Daniel Farke - recently coming to light, Sargent reiterated that he remained committed to the Canaries, as he is under contract at Carrow Road until 2028.

However, it has since been reported that West Ham have targeted the man who has scored 50 Championship goals in just 118 appearances amid injury setbacks, and that a £15m valuation has been placed on Sargent's head by the relegation-threatened Yellows.

Despite his influence, ability and potential in comparison to many Norwich colleagues, Sargent is not the top earner on Mark Attanasio's payroll, although he, like Wright, is said to take home an ESTIMATED figure of £25,000 per week.

As such, this figure is £10,000 behind the club's top earner in Shane Duffy, which may come as a surprise as the Irish defender has been the subject of immense criticism from supporters for his conduct and performances this season.

Haji Wright and Josh Sargent would expect potential wage hike if West Ham move materialised

As previously mentioned, there is a clear financial disparity between Premier League and Championship clubs, meaning Wright or Sargent could expect a wage increase if they were to move to East London.

Their current wage is below that of many established first-teamers on the Hammers' books, whilst veteran centre-forward, Callum Wilson, who signed on a free transfer in the summer, is ESTIMATED to be earning £50,000 per week, whilst Niclas Füllkrug, who has been linked with a move to AC Milan despite failing to score this season amid injury issues, is said to be on £90,000 per week.

Wright has never featured in the Premier League before, whilst Sargent would hope to have a much more successful spell in front of goal if a move materialised, scoring just twice in 26 outings for Norwich after signing from Werder Bremen for £8m as a 21-year-old.