Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic has been in high demand following Fulham’s relegation from the Premier League.
Mitrovic was instrumental in getting Fulham to the top flight, but couldn’t help his club stay in the league despite scoring 11 goals.
The London club are ready to let go of the player they signed for £22 million just a year ago, and are willing to sell him on for £30 million, as per the Evening Standard.
Premier League side West Ham United are one of the contenders to sign the Serbian striker, who previously played for Newcastle United.
“He’s a top-drawer centre-forward but at the same time I think that this football club we’ll be doing everything they can to keep a player like Alek (Mitrovic),” said Fulham manager Scott Parker last month, when quizzed about the future of Mitrovic.
West Ham aren’t the only club interested in signing the Serbian, as fellow Premier League side, Southampton, are also keen on adding him to their squad for next season.
Mitrovic has scored 23 goals in 59 games for Fulham, with 12 of those coming in the Championship in just 17 games.
Is Mitrovic worth the fuss for £30 million?
Mitrovic is a proven goalscorer and has delivered the goods even in a poor Fulham team that struggled in their return to top-flight football. The Serbian is a strong, physical player who is good in the air, while also being a good finisher inside the box.
At 24 years of age, Mitrovic is still young and can improve significantly, especially if he plays alongside players of higher quality.
West Ham United need strikers, and a young striker like Mitrovic would be a good investment for the present and the future. The striker could be the Hammers’ No. 9 for next season as the future of the strikers Andy Carroll, Javier Hernandez, and Lucas Perez is still uncertain.
While he may not have scored 20+ goals in the season, Mitrovic has shown that he has the potential to deliver in the Premier League. £30 million in the current inflated market isn’t a big sum, and a player like Mitrovic, who has Premier League experience, would be a good buy.