Hammers invite Bassey for trial<em

ENGLISH Premier club, West Ham, have agreed to £8.4 million release clause option over Fenerbahce striker, Emmanuel Emenike, according to club president, Aziz Yildirim.

The Premier League outfit are also set to pay the Yellow Canaries £760,000 in loan fees until the end of the season.

The Fenerbahce president told reporters at his press conference that Emenike is on the verge of joining the Hammers on loan but underlined that a deal had not yet been completed.

“We’re about to loan [Emenike] to West Ham United,” Yildirim said.

“They will give £760,000 (€1million) to us for this agreement and they will have the option to purchase him for £8.4m (€11m). But the deal hasn’t been completed yet.”

Emenike is reported to have already undergone his medical, according to Jack Sullivan, son of Hammers co-owner, David Sullivan.

West Ham are currently facing an injury crisis up front with Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho sidelined.

Emenike would increase West Ham manager, Slaven Bilic’s options up front and he knows the Nigerian international from his time coaching in Turkey.

Emenike spent the first half of the season on loan at Al Ain scoring seven goal in 11 appearances. The Nigerian international did, however, struggle last season scoring just five league goals for Fenerbahce under the stewardship of former head coach, Ismail Kartal.

Meanwhile, the club have invited Enyimba forward, Ezekiel Bassey, aka ‘Hazard,’ for trials.

“Bassey has been invited for trials by West Ham,” a top source disclosed.

Last year, Nigeria defender, Azubuike Egwuekwe, trialed with ‘The Hammers’.

Bassey has already been capped at full international level by Nigeria, when he made his debut in a 2018 World Cup qualifier against Swaziland in October in Port Harcourt.

The former Akwa United star was on the final squad to CHAN 2016, but he only played a bit role as he has struggled with his form in pre-tournament training camp in Pretoria, South Africa.

He is a left-sided winger with dazzling footwork and dribbles who has earned the nickname ‘Hazard’ after the Chelsea in his first season at champions Enyimba.

But it is left to be seen if he could be granted a work permit should he impress trying out with the London club.

• Culled from www.turkish-football.com