Meet the Argentine teenager West Ham are challenging Chelsea for
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West Ham are rivalling Premier League sides with title ambitions for the signature of Argentina’s brightest striker.
According to The Sun, the east London club are tussling with Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool for 17-year-old marksman Naza Bazan Vera.
The teenager, who plays for Velez Sarsfield’s youth team in his homeland, has been impressing coaching staff of the Buenos Aires-based club enough to train with the first team of late.
In addition, The Sun say, Bazan Vera is expected to be called up to Argentina’s U20 squad, while impressing scouts of some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Alongside Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool, Villarreal have also taken a look at the young goal getter, while talent spotters have moved to compare him to Juventus striker Paulo Dybala.
A considerable boon for Bazan Vera is his possession of a European passport, which would allow him sign for a continental club without requiring a work permit.
Perhaps the Hammers’ recent history of signing Argentine attackers gives them the edge in the pursuit of Bazan Vera.
Manuel Lanzini made his loan switch from Al-Jazira permanent over the summer, while Jonathan Calleri is on a temporary stay from Maldonado this season.
Mauro Zarate, another Velez Sarsfield youth, was at the club for a short while in 2014/15 and of course the craze was started by Carlos Tevez, who scored seven iconic goals to help the club survive relegation in 2006/07.
After a struggling start to the season, the Hammers currently sit in 16th place but are distant 8/1 chances to be relegated this term.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
