West Ham to beat Arsenal to Nigerian striker

West Ham United are reportedly in pole position to sign KAS Eupen forward Henry Onyekuru after having urged him to snub advances from Arsenal.

The Nigeria international has admitted his desire to play in the Premier League but does not want to be left on the bench at a bigger club.

As a result, the Hammers have become the front-runners to pursue the teenager, who is keen to express himself in the English top flight next term.

According to The Mail, the east London outfit appear to have hijacked a deal for the highly-rated forward following assurances of regular first-team football next season.

Slaven Bilic's side will trigger the £7m release clause on the player's contract ahead of a proposed medical on Tuesday to acquire his services.

Onyekuru was in blistering form for Eupen during the previous campaign as his 22 goals in the Jupiler League proved key to avoiding relegation.

He was mainly deployed on the left wing at the Belgian minnows but he is still said to prefer the centre-forward role as he looks to make further progress in both club and international level.

Onyekuru earned his maiden cap for Nigeria earlier this month when the Super Eagles beat Togo by a 3-0 scoreline in an international friendly.