Late in the summer transfer window, both West Ham and Burnley were said to be after Lorient’s Majeed Waris to bolster their attack.
Things were said to be close around mid-August, but ‘complications’ led to the Ghanaian forward to remain in Ligue 2, at least for the first half of the season.
However, his stay at the club hasn’t exactly been a positive one, with the 26-year-old only appearing six times in the league so far, scoring one goal and picking up one assist.
With the January transfer window just around the corner, Lorient, according to their president, are getting ready to sell the player if the right offer comes along.
Speaking to Ouest-France, Loïc Féry said: “His situation is different. We aren’t against a departure, but it has to be a good deal for the club. We won’t just accept anything.
“A loan? It depends in what conditions, and if it can help us strengthen the squad”.
‘Disappointed’ by Waris’ lack of impact this season, Féry has very clearly left the door open for clubs like West Ham and Burnley to come back for more in the coming weeks.
While Lorient were asking for around €10m in the summer, that number should be considerably lower in January, and while that has its advantages, it also has a downside.
Waris’ lack of regular action for Ghana means applying for work permit to join the Hammers or the Clarets in the Premier League could be tricky, and the last thing David Moyes or Sean Dyche will want is waste time going after a footballer who might not end up being allowed to ply his trade across the Channel.
Something to think about for both clubs, and unless they end up paying him a high wage, getting that work permit could be tricky.
