West Ham must revive deal for £20m ace as Premier League rivals plot hijack – view | OneFootball

West Ham United must revive their interest in Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka as Everton join race for talented midfielder.

Like West Ham, Everton are also looking to bolster their squad with the addition of a striker and a midfielder.

According to reports, Chukwuemeka is one of several names on their shortlist, and they’ll rival West Ham for the 21-year-old’s signature.

Chukwuemeka came through the youth ranks at Aston Villa before joining Chelsea in a £20 million deal in 2022, but he has struggled for playing time since joining the Blues.

While he showed promise during his Villa days, featuring in 14 Premier League games, the midfielder has made just 32 appearances in two and a half years with Chelsea.

This season, under Enzo Maresca, he has played a mere 130 minutes across all competitions.

Chelsea still rate Chukwuemeka highly and have slapped a £40m asking price on the England youth international. However, a loan exit appears more likely this month.

In addition to West Ham and Everton, Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea’s sister club RC Strasbourg are also exploring loan options for the midfielder, though FIFA regulations may restrict the French club’s ability to act.

West Ham need to go back in for Chukwuemeka

Everton’s pursuit of Chukwuemeka is complicated. The Toffees would need Chelsea to terminate Armando Broja’s loan, even though the striker is sidelined with ankle ligament damage.

Chelsea are demanding a compensation package for Broja’s return, making negotiations far from straightforward.

That paves the way for West Ham to swoop back in. The Hammers can’t afford to miss out on a talent like Chukwuemeka.

He has certainly struggled to live up to expectations at Stamford Bridge but has shown glimpses of what he’s capable of when given the opportunity.

With a run of games under his belt, he could turn out to be a shrewd acquisition.

Chukwuemeka is a towering, powerful, all-action midfielder – just what the Hammers need. He is a technically gifted player who has composure on the ball and boasts excellent versatility.