Journalist now claims West Ham "looked at" signing 22 y/o gem, 21 G/A this season

Journalist Ryan Taylor believes that West Ham looked at signing Blackburn striker Ben Brereton Diaz in January.

The Hammers badly needed to bring in a striker last month to bolster their attacking options ahead of a hectic second half of the season, although they failed in their attempts.

According to Football Insider, David Moyes was targeting a move for the Chile international late on in the window and even sent scouts to watch him play for Blackburn against Hull earlier this month.

The 22-year-old didn't score in that game but has been in outstanding goalscoring form this season, which has caught the eye of several Premier League sides.

In 27 Championship appearances this term, the striker has scored 20 goals, including four braces and a hat-trick in a thumping victory over Cardiff earlier in the campaign, while chipping in with one assist.

Brereton Diaz might have no Premier League experience, but West Ham only have Michail Antonio on their books, and he could therefore have eased the workload on the Hammers' top goalscorer, who's been their only option up front since Sebastien Haller left for Ajax 12 months ago.

West Ham had narrowed their search down to Brereton Diaz and Armando Broja, who's currently on loan at Southampton from Chelsea, although they ended up failing to make a single signing throughout January despite being left in both the FA Cup and Europa League and still fighting for a top four place.

But Taylor revealed that a move for Brereton Diaz was always going to be complicated heading into the final few days of the window because he's currently away on international duty with Chile.

He told GIVEMESPORT: "There were others they looked at. Ben Brereton Diaz was one, but he was in South America."

Rangnick