'Contract on table' as West Ham begin stunning swoop for £20m Wolves star

West Ham are reportedly considering an approach for Wolves forward Hwang Hee-Chan this January as they seek to bolster their attacking line for the rest of the season.

Two serious injuries - a broken leg for Michail Antonio and a fractured foot for Jarrod Bowen - have prompted urgent action at London Stadium as Julien Lopetegui’s side are falling further and further away from top half contention. Niclas Füllkrug scored his second goal of the campaign away at Manchester City but the Hammers need more depth and quality.

The Telegraph reports West Ham have added three players to their shortlist this winter, including Wolves’ Hwang. Out-of-sorts Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson and high-flying Middlesbrough forward Emmanuel Latte Lath are said to be the other options being seriously considered.

West Ham ideally want players on loan but funds could be generated through sales for permanent deals. Hwang, who has started just three Premier League games this season, might be available at the correct price but new manager Vitor Pereira appears to value the South Korean’s presence higher than old boss Gary O’Neil did.

Hwang initially joined the Old Gold on loan from RB Leipzig in August 2021 before making his move to Molineux permanent the following summer. The 28-year-old, who has scored 15 times in 69 senior appearances for South Korea, has racked up 24 goals and seven assists in 109 matches for Wolves.

For comparison, Ferguson, who was once thought of as one of the Premier League’s hottest prospects, has contributed 17 goals and five assists in 79 appearances for Brighton. Latte Lath has a better goal-to-game ratio with 28 netted in 63 matches for Middlesbrough, though its worth noting the Ivorian has been playing in a lower standard division.

It awaits to be seen if Wolves would be open to letting Hwang go but with West Ham’s interest noted, a potential departure has effectively begun. They had a clear not-for-sale approach in the summer when Marseille saw a bid of £20 million rejected but that stance may have changed. Time will tell as the month progresses.

Wolves place ‘contract offer on table’

In other transfer news, Wanderers have been in talks with star forward Matheus Cunha over a new contract and an agreement is thought to be close. Birmingham World understands Wolves have no interest in selling Cunha this transfer window despite interest from Arsenal and Manchester United.

A new deal with an improved salary is on the table as the Old Gold seek to tie down their star player for several more years to come. Negotiations are progressing and there’s hope from all parties that an agreement can be struck relatively soon. It awaits to be seen if a release clause will be included, whether that be for relegation or when a Champions League club makes an offer.

It’s easy to understand why Wolves are so keen to get this deal done as Cunha has emerged as the club’s clear talisman. The Brazilian has scored 10 goals and made four assists in 19 Premier League matches so far this term, following on from 12 goals and seven assists in 32 games last campaign.