West Ham United are set to sign 27-year-old Moroccan international Imran Louza from fellow EFL Championship club Watford this summer.
What's the latest on the transfer?
The Hammers are combing the market for another midfielder despite signing Arne Engels from Celtic a few days ago, due to underlying issues with the midfield department, with Tomas Soucek struggling with a calf injury. Imran Louza has experienced a mixed spell since joining Watford from Nantes in June 2021, but has since impressed at Watford, becoming the club captain at Vicarage Road, and making 41 starts in the EFL Championship while contributing seven goals and nine assists last season.
Why does Louza fit West Ham's needs?
The Moroccan international already has extensive experience of English football and is used to the physicality that Championship football demands, and brings leadership and productivity to the table, which is exactly what West Ham United need, following a season where they scored 40 goals and conceded 57, resulting in a -17 goal difference.
What comes next for West Ham?
With the Watford captain preferring to move to West Ham, the Hammers have sufficient leverage ahead of negotiations with the Hornets, and are looking to complete their squad's midfield revamp, as they prepare for the new season, looking to improve on their 17th place finish in the Premier League with 33 points from 33 games, and recent form of DWLDW.
