The £20million deal that took West Ham United striker flop Sebastien Haller to Ajax could yet have a kickback for David Moyes.
Ray Parlour offers voice of reason as David Moyes comes in for criticism
West Ham took a £25m hit on their record £45m signing when they sold Haller to the Dutch club last Friday.
Hammers fans were not surprised at what they saw as more terrible business from the club.
West Ham fan fury as Moyes admits Hammers ‘underprepared’ to sign Haller replacement
But many were furious when Moyes then admitted West Ham are underprepared to sign a replacement (Evening Standard).
That’s despite West Ham actively trying to sign a striker in the summer, long BEFORE Haller’s departure.
And despite the fact Moyes is now solely reliant on the injury-prone and half-fit Michail Antonio up front.
West Ham have been linked with all and sundry since selling Haller.
West Ham could get late pay off from Haller deal in the form of a clear path to sign Traore – reporter
But it appears one link in particular may have legs as a direct result of the Haller sale.
That’s if a report from Holland is anything to go by.
West Ham were linked with young Ajax striker Lassina Traore last week, before the Haller deal was completed (De Telegraaf via Voetbal Primeur and reliable insider ExWHUemployee).
And now De Telegraaf, as also reported by Sport Witness and Claret & Hugh, claim West Ham could get a kickback from the Haller deal in the form of the path being cleared for Moyes to land Traore.
De Telegraaf reporter Kenneth Perez claims Ajax could now agree to sell the striker – who turned 20 yesterday – to West Ham in order to recoup some of the money they have spent on Haller.
Sport Witness quote Perez saying: “It would be gold if some crazy English club put down £20m for Traore.
“That wouldn’t surprise me. Then (Ajax) have Haller’s money back.”
Good goal record and fits Moyes’s Red Bull strategy
The use of the word crazy suggests West Ham should be steering clear of any deal.
But Traore’s goal record is decent. He has scored 12 in 28 games for Ajax.
His family has footballing pedigree too. He is the cousin of Aston Villa star Bertrand. And Lassina’s mother used to captain the Burkina Faso women’s team.
The striker also fits Moyes’s strategy of signing young, quick, energetic players with potential.
West Ham have to ask themselves, though, if Traore is so good, why have Ajax just shelled out to sign Haller?
Traore is one of several striker targets linked with a move to West Ham since Haller’s sale.
Moyes is also said to be weighing up moves for Patson Daka (The Mirror) and Boulaye Dia (Evening Standard).