Back towards the end of March, we looked at three players West Ham could, and probably should, target to put their awful luck with striker signings to an end.
The options were Michy Batshuayi, Chris Wood and Toulouse’s Martin Braithwaite.
We dubbed the latter of the three ‘the gamble’, the kind of player that doesn’t always spring to mind automatically, but who could certainly help the team in some shape or form.
Perhaps not as prolific as the other two on paper, the Toulouse forward would also be available for less than £10m.
The Ligue 1 club aren’t exactly in a position to hold clubs to ransom for their players, and while there might be better, and more expensive, options out there, Braithwaite could be a gamble worth taking.
Problem is, can West Ham afford another gamble in the striker’s position? Probably not.”
On the 26th of May, L’Equipe published an article claiming that West Ham were keeping an eye on the Denmark international, and with a price tag of €8-10m, he would be a bargain for Premier League sides.
Well, on Thursday, Bild claim that while Köln in Germany have made him their number one candidate, they aren’t the favourites to sign him.
No, according to the German newspaper, West Ham in England and Marseille in France are, suggesting the 26-year-old would prefer either a stay in France or giving English football a go.
Either way, Braithwaite might not be the out and out scorer West Ham need, but he’ll certainly bring something more than Jonathan Calleri or Simone Zaza ever did.
Playing mostly down the left this season, the forward scored 12 goals and picked up three assists in 36 appearances in all competitions.
