EXCLUSIVE: English Premier League side West Ham United to watch Ghana defender Jonathan Mensah during AFCON

By Akyereko Frimpong Manson

Follow Akyereko on Twitter: @AkyerekOfficial

English Premier League side West Ham United are poised to sign Ghana defender Jonathan Mensah but are keen to assess his form during the 2015 AFCON tournament which kicks off on Saturday. 

GHANAsoccernet.com sources close to the English club have confirmed the Hammers are interested in signing the enterprising center-back who plies his trade with French Ligue 1 side Evian Thonon Gaillard.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has okayed the move but is waiting for news from his scouts as to whether the former AshantiGold defender is fit enough for the English Premier League challenge.

Mensah is core member of the Ghana squad that is set to play at the 2015 AFCON tournament and he is regarded as the backbone of Ghana's defence.

He has been linked with a move to the English Premier League in the past - Sunderland, after the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but the deal did not materialise.

However, Evian, who own the player would expect nothing less than 7 million Euros from his sale, according to sources inside France.

The Ligue 1 outfit hold their players in high esteem, especially Mensah, who has been at the club for the past three seasons.