A quiet fire is building.
While West Ham scrap for survival, Arsenal are plotting resurrection.
CaughtOffside reports that both clubs are now locked in a transfer race for OGC Nice’s Evann Guessand, a 23-year-old Ivorian forward who has notched 20 goal contributions this season across all competitions, driving Nice toward a Champions League finish.
West Ham’s interest is no surprise. After sacking Julen Lopetegui mid-season and hiring Graham Potter to rebuild a crumbling identity, the Hammers are chasing flair and goals. But Arsenal’s interest? That’s strategy.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal don’t chase names—they chase systems. And in Guessand, they see flexibility: a striker who can drift wide, carry the ball, and offer a different rhythm than the physical presence of a classic No.9.
Make no mistake: this is not a headline move. It’s deeper.
With Gabriel Jesus enduring another injury-plagued campaign, and Kai Havertz still floating between midfield and attack, Arsenal’s forward line lacks clarity. Guessand may not be the finished article—but Arsenal aren’t buying a saviour. They’re building an arsenal.
The numbers matter. Guessand is valued at around £21 million on Transfermarkt, but with three years left on his contract, Nice won’t settle easily. West Ham have scouted him in person—watching him shine against Auxerre and Lyon.
Arsenal will need to move fast and smart.
The Gunners are also tracking bigger names—Watkins, Tel—but Guessand offers something different: a lower fee, lower risk, and higher long-term ceiling if coached right.
This transfer window is not just about fixing gaps. It’s about laying foundations.
And in that game, Arsenal often move first—quietly, but decisively.