With the January transfer market fast approaching, Real Madrid’s most prominent up-and-coming star, Jese Rodriguez, has garnered the attention of West Ham United and is rumoured to be on the fast track for a loan to Upton Park.
According to the Daily Star, West Ham manager Sam Allardyce’s interest in the 20-year-old striker is part of a strategy to improve the East London club’s poor goalscoring performance so far this season, having scored just nine goals in 11 Premier League matches.
A potential loan deal with Real Madrid for Jese would also fit the bill from a cash standpoint, as Allardyce spent West Ham’s transfer budget during the summer to bring in Razvan Rat, Stewart Downing and the record-breaking signing of Andy Carroll from Liverpool for 20 million euros. The latter has disappointingly not played with the Hammers so far this season due to a heel injury, but could potentially make a comeback before the Christmas break, meaning Jese would have competition for the centre-forward position, should the loan deal go through.
The Canary Islands-born canterano joined Real Madrid’s youth system in 2007, aged 14, and over the past six years has gained a reputation as a reliable goalscorer, having broken the record for most goals in a season by a Real Madrid B player with 22 last season. Furthermore, Jese holds international youth accolades as top goalscorer in the 2012 UEFA U19 Championship for Spain, along with a winners medal from the tournament, and the Bronze Shoe from the 2013 FIFA U20 World Cup.
