Even now, in November, new information of failed summer moves is filtering through, probably via agents trying to get their clients’ names back into the headlines ahead of the January transfer window.
As the August deadline grew closer, West Ham were, like always, scrambling around Europe towards the end of the window, trying to find a defensive midfielder and a goalscorer.
With Diafra Sakho seemingly on his way out, that would have made sense, but the former Metz scorer ended up staying and a new forward never arrived.
There was one target in particular that came up a few times thanks to the Portuguese press, and that was Benfica’s Raul Jimenez.
However, the Mexican wasn’t the only striker they were said to be looking at, as Corriere dello Sport explain that Fiorentina, around that same time, were ‘convinced’ they would be receiving €15m for Khouma Babacar from West Ham.
This tidbit of information appears in an article covering the Serie A side’s interest in Lazio’s Filip Djordjevic, as the sale of the Senegalese forward would have secured the funds to land the Serb.
While Corriere state that, with a contract ending in 2018, La Viola could return for Djordjevic in January, West Ham’s interest in Babacar doesn’t seem to be topical anymore.
It really should, however, as the winter transfer window seems like an ideal time to save the 24-year-old from his spot on the bench in Italy, as he is yet to start a game this season, despite making 10 appearances and scoring two goals.
One for David Moyes to think about? After all, he wasn’t happy with Andy Carroll and Marko Arnautovic’s performances against Watford…
