West Ham talks continue for Evann Guessand, more suitable fee needed
West Ham United may look to bring OGC Nice down to a "more suitable fee" in their pursuit of Evann Guessand, according to ExWHUemployee.
Reporting on The West Ham Way (15 January), the Irons source said that interest in the 23-year-old is genuine at the London Stadium, despite financial demands currently being "out of range".
The Ligue 1 side is only likely to entertain bids of £20million and above for Guessand [Daily Mail, 14 January], but the Hammers' hierarchy could still pursue a deal for the Ivorian striker as they push for a "more suitable" fee.
West Ham must push button on striker transfer for Graham Potter
If 3 February comes and goes without a new striker being brought through the doors at the London Stadium, Graham Potter will be staring down the barrel of a difficult second half of the season.
Even before Michail Antonio was involved in a career-threatening car accident and Niclas Fullkrug suffered the latest in a succession of injuries, the Hammers were crying out for fresh faces in attack.
Antonio, Fullkrug and Danny Ings – currently the only fit striker on the books – are aged 34, 31 and 32 respectively, making their pursuit Guessand a sea-change from the Irons' previous transfer policy.
The Hammers are suffering the consequences of a hit-and-miss summer transfer window directed by Tim Steidten and the recently-sacked Julen Lopetegui, leaving Potter with a bloated, misshaped squad.
Adding a striker is paramount if Potter is to fire the Irons back up to the right end of the Premier League table, and though Guessand isn't their only target, he could prove to be the pick of the bunch.
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