West Ham plot move for wantaway Sampdoria star Luis Muriel despite striker signing new deal
West Ham are keen to add another striker this summer and have not been put off by the £24million buy-out clause for the Colombian international
WEST HAM are plotting a move for Luis Muriel, despite the striker signing a new deal at Sampdoria.
The Colombian striker is keen to move on and the Italians were hoping to spark a bidding war this summer for his signature.
The hitman recently penned a new deal at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris stadium, with a buy-out clause of £24million, a fee SunSport understands West Ham are prepared to match.
Hammers boss Slaven Bilic has made a striker his top priority this summer, with midfielder Michail Antonio the club top Premier League marksman with nine last term.
Muriel, 26, hit 11 goals in Serie A last term has been linked with a move to Roma, Inter Milan and Leicester City.
Liverpool have also checked in on the forward dubbed "the Colombian Ronaldo".
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And regardless of the new deal, after two seasons with Sampdoria Muriel has admitted his future is uncertain, despite making it clear he wants to leave Genoa.
He told ESPN: “There are a lot of rumours about me and my agent told me he will only call with something concrete.
“He has not called me yet and hope he will within the next few days.
“In the meanwhile, I’m calm, I renewed with Sampdoria and I’m not thinking much about what might happen."
Luis Muriel - the Colombian who idolised Brazilian Ronaldo
- Born in Santo Tomas, he began playing football in 2001 with the youth club Atlético Junior until 2008 when his potential was spotted by Deportivo Cali.
- Muriel’s inspiration is Ronaldo, he was a ball boy when Colombia played Brazil in a World Cup qualifier in Barranquilla. He tried to run on the pitch to meet him but was stopped by a policeman.
- Muriel scored 9 goals in 10 games for Deportivo Cali. His form caught the eye of Udinese who signed him in 2010.
- He made his Udinese debut in a 2–1 defeat against Fiorentina. Muriel was awarded Serie A Best Young Revelation for 2012, which he shared with Stephan El Shaarawy.
- Despite being 25 years of age the striker has already been at five different clubs.
Italy has not been a happy hunting ground for West Ham recently, as the club failed to land Muriel's fellow countryman Carlos Bacca last year and ended up with flop Simone Zaza from Juventus instead.
The East Londoners are also monitoring Manchester City forward Kalechi Iheanacho who looks surplus to requirements at the Etihad next season.