Transfer Talk: Hammers prepared to smash club record to land Boniface

West Ham are willing to break their club transfer record to sign Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface.

The Hammers paid £45million for Ivory Coast international Sebastien Haller in July 2019 but are prepared to exceed that sum to land the Nigerian.

Boniface, 23, is currently sidelined with a groin injury that has caused him to miss the Super Eagles' Africa Cup of Nations campaign.

But prior to that setback, he had netted 16 goals in all competitions this term for Xabi Alonso's impressive side.

The ex-Bodo/Glimt and Union Saint-Gilloise forward penned a five-year deal when he signed for Leverkusen last July meaning BayArena chiefs are under no pressure to sell.

Boniface's price tag may rise should a bidding war surface, with The Sun claiming Chelsea and Newcastle are two other interested parties.

West Ham are eager to land an out-and-out No9 this month, with injured attacker Jarrod Bowen their top scorer.

Bowen has 14 goals in all competitions, the only Irons player to hit double figures so far this season.

In other news

The Liverpool Echo say Al-Ettifaq have identified Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure as a replacement for Jordan Henderson.

Newcastle have rejected a loan bid from Atletico Madrid for striker Callum Wilson, according to the Daily Mail.

The Daily Star report Manchester City head the queue for Girona sensation Savio.