Arsenal and West Ham both need a central striker. This season, they’ve leaned on makeshift options—midfielders pushed forward, false nines masking a glaring weakness.
Now, Fiorentina’s Moise Kean is accelerating to the top of both clubs’ wish lists. The 25-year-old has erupted with 20 goals and three assists in 34 games, becoming one of Serie A’s most prolific forwards.
Kean’s contract carries a €52 million release clause only valid in July, and it’s triggered the interest of Arsenal, West Ham, and Newcastle alike, according to Italian source Tutto Mercato Web.
Three clubs have “made first contact,” according to the reports—each weighing whether that sum buys instant impact or long-term risk.
For West Ham, that clause is within reach—a long-term replacement for Michail Antonio is imperative.
Arsenal, by contrast, might play a more high-stakes game. Their transfer budget is higher; they’ve studied bigger names like Benjamin Sesko and Victor Osimhen. Kean offers value—but lacks the perceived ceiling of those other options.
Kean’s style? He drops deep, wins duels, unsettles defences. He can finish clinically but also unlock play. That dual threat sells itself.
This fight isn’t just about a striker—it’s about identity. Arsenal see a cultured, potent alternative if pricing blows for bigger names. West Ham see pragmatism, a striker proven now, and immediate return.
Expect both camps to escalate quickly when the clause window opens.
The talk of Kean may soon become the thunder of a sealed deal.