West Ham could make a move for Eddie Nketiah during the January transfer window after an insider dropped an exciting claim...

What's the word?

The Irons have been linked with the young Arsenal forward in recent weeks but they face stiff competition from Premier League rivals Leeds United, where he has previously been on loan, and Crystal Palace.

According to the ever-reliable ExWHUemployee, the 22-year-old striker is a player that the Irons have looked at before, so there's a chance they revisit that interest this winter.

After discussing another mooted target in fellow Gunners frontman Alexandre Lacazette, Ex commented on Nketiah.

"His teammate, that we have definitely shown an interest in before and have looked at quite a lot, Eddie Nketiah," he revealed to 'The West Ham Way' podcast this week.

"His contract's up in the summer. And I know from sources that we have had a strong interest in him before, so it wouldn’t surprise me if we did make a move for him.

"He would fit, with that age, he’s 22 possibly, young, pacey, works hard - a similar mode to Antonio, really."

Striker solution?

Nketiah is certainly looking like a player that will be available to teams at the turn of the year.

Sky Sports' Dharmesh Sheth claimed the England U21 talisman is looking to leave the north London giants as there is no sign of a renewal ahead of January - foreign clubs are free to begin negotiations with him from then, too.

The fact that Ex has mentioned the club's interest is certainly an exciting sign that things could happen as he's one of the most trustworthy when it comes to anything at the London Stadium.

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But what will thrill the Hammers faithful even more is the possibility that they end their near two-year wait to find an alternative and backup option to Michail Antonio, 31, who has had injury struggles throughout his time at West Ham.

Furthermore, Nketiah has been likened to Jermain Defoe, on top of Ex's Antonio comparison, and he has a very prolific record at youth level, both domestically (43 goals) and internationally (16 goals in 17 appearances).

The Irons are surely in pole position to secure him considering they occupy third place in the Premier League. They desperately need a striker this January and Nketiah could well be a bargain thanks to his contractual situation at Arsenal.

Those around east London should be excited by this claim.

AND in other news, Forget Kai Corbett: Moyes could have striker sensation in West Ham teen who's "going right to the top"...