Reports throughout the last window claimed West Ham United wanted to sign Barcelona’s Martin Braithwaite, but the deal never took shape.
Barca were allowed to make an emergency signing in February because of the long-term injury to Ousmane Dembélé, and the La Liga side ended up taking Braithwaite from Leganés the same month.
The Denmark international made only four league starts for the Catalan club last season, and having failed to score a goal or register an assist, he was made available for a transfer in the summer.
He’s restricted to 37 minutes of action in the league this season and the striker’s national team coach, Kasper Hjulmand, has let Braithwaite know that he will not make it to the European championship without playing regularly for Ronald Koeman’s side this term.
According to AS, the ex-Middlesbrough man has given his approval for a move away from the Camp Nou in January and his sale will be key for Barca to sign Memphis Depay.
Having paid €18m earlier this year, Barcelona hope to sell him for a similar figure, even though the frontman’s valuation has dropped to €7.5m.
The newspaper also talks about the Hammers’ failed efforts to sign the frontman in the summer.
AS states Braithwaite was ‘about to sign’ for West Ham, ‘but the operation broke down without, to this day, the reasons being known’.
Braithwaite will have to look for a new club in January in order to get regular playing time in the second half of the season. It remains to be seen whether or not David Moyes’ side will come back for him in the winter market.
