West Ham United transfer news as Fulham join race to sign Habib Diallo
West Ham United have now been joined by Premier League rivals Fulham in the race to sign RC Strasbourg striker Habib Diallo, according to TEAMtalk.
According to the report (28 July), Ligue 1 side Strasbourg are willing to part ways with the Senegalese international if they receive a “suitable offer” for his services, with Brentford and Nottingham Forest also interested.
French outlet L’Equipe reported on 22 June that it could take a fee of around £17m to prize him away and the interest in the 28-year-old’s services is ramping up after a sensational 20-goal campaign last season.
Strikers needed
With the futures of Michail Antonio and Gianluca Scamacca uncertain at the London Stadium, David Moyes desperately needs a variety source of goals and a new striker will be high on the transfer agenda this summer.
West Ham United certainly face a tough battle trying to sign a replacement or two for Declan Rice in midfield and the way things are going right now, it seems as if the Irons are placing all their eggs in sorting that area out.
However, that decision could come back to bite them with the Premier League campaign just two weeks away and the Hammers must address the attacking areas with similar urgency.
Diallo would represent a risky proposition for the East Londoners but his 20 goals in 37 Ligue 1 outings last season simply cannot be ignored.
The Senegalese international has all the hallmarks of a striker that could thrive in David Moyes’s style of play due to his size, ability to hold the ball up and his pace to get in behind defences.
He proved last season that he is more than capable of finding the back of the net on a regular basis in a struggling side and, with better players around him, there is no reason why he can’t do that in the Premier League.
Whether West Ham follow up this interest with an offer is a whole other matter, but it is clear that the Hammers cannot afford to waste time with just two weeks left until that first English top-flight whistle.
In other West Ham news, one European giant is ramping up the pressure on the Hammers to sign one big-money player.