West Ham United have reportedly joined the race to secure a transfer deal for Chicago Fire striker Jhon Duran.
The Lowdown: West Ham's recent transfer business
The previous summer transfer window saw the Hammers show that they are not shy when it comes to signing players from foreign clubs.
Figures such as Gianluca Scamacca, Nayef Aguerd and Lucas Paqueta, among others, all made moves to the east London side from a variety of different clubs abroad.
However, with the January transfer window approaching, it appears that West Ham have set their sights on signing a player who is currently making a name for himself outside of Europe.
The Latest: West Ham join the race to sign Duran
According to a recent report from The Sun's Alan Nixon, West Ham and Everton have joined the race to sign Duran, alongside fellow Premier League clubs such as Manchester United and Liverpool.
[web_stories_embed url="https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-news-5/" title="West Ham latest news!" poster="" width="360" height="600" align="none"]
The report also adds that the Hammers have made contact with the player over a potential transfer deal.
The Verdict: A good investment for West Ham
Despite only starting 14 of the 27 MLS appearances he made throughout his club's latest league campaign, Duran still managed to score eight goals, which made him the club's top goalscorer.
In addition to that, the Colombian racked up more shots at goal (60) and shots on target (24) than any other player at the club.
This show just how much of a handful the 18-year-old, who has been described by his manager Ezra Hendrickson as a player that has "all the tools" to succeed, can be for opposition goalkeepers and defenders.
Bearing in mind how West Ham have the second-lowest percentage for shots on target in the league this season (26.6%), this shows how adding a player like Duran to their side could be a massive benefit for them.
With all of that in mind, we feel that the Hammers should do all they can to beat their top-flight rivals to the striker's signature once the January transfer window opens for business.