Fringe USMNT player Haji Wright’s club Coventry City demands record $270 million from desperate West Ham

The list of the most expensive transfers in soccer history includes the likes of Neymar, Kylian Mbappé and Cristiano Ronaldo.

A new name has been floated to join their superstar ranks: American striker Haji Wright.

Wait, what?

Wright, a 27-year-old fringe figure on the United States men’s national team who plies his trade for Coventry City in England’s second tier, is the subject of transfer interest from Premier League team West Ham United.

According to a report in The Telegraph, Coventry City quoted West Ham a price tag of £200 million to acquire Wright.

That’s the equivalent of $269.92 million by today’s exchange rates.

At that figure, it would surpass Neymar’s €222 million move (roughly £194 million at current rates) from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 as the biggest on record.

Now, that’s not happening. And it would be interesting to see West Ham test Coventry’s resolve at some fraction of the price, say £40 million or £50 million.

But it’s a firm expression of how much Coventry value Wright, who has eight goals in 18 appearances this season.

The Los Angeles native is making a case for inclusion on the 26-man USMNT roster for this summer’s home World Cup. Most projections have Wright vying to be a backup behind first-choice forward Folarin Balogun.

Wright scored both goals in the United States’ 2-1 win over Australia — an opponent they’ll see again in their second match of the World Cup group stage — in an October friendly.

Wright’s Coventry are currently in first place in the EFL Championship, and would secure the riches of an automatic promotion to the Premier League if they finish in the top two in the standings.

London club West Ham, meanwhile, are trying to reinforce their roster to avoid relegation from the Premier League. They’re in 18th place in the 20-team league, in position for the “drop.”