Hot and cold Wolves winger Adama Traore could be available on the kind of deal David Sullivan would love and West Ham United must pounce.
ExWHUemployee delivers verdict on reports West Ham are close to signing rapid striker
Former West Ham target Traore could be available on loan with the option to buy.
That’s according to football journalist Pedro Almeida and several reports in Spain which claim Valencia have entered talks with Wolves for the kind of deal West Ham owner Sullivan loves.
Sullivan and fellow co-owner David Gold prefer to take players on loan with the option to buy to lessen any risk.
Traore is the quickest player in the Premier League but – like Wolves as a team – struggled for consistency and starts last season.
West Ham have been heavily linked with Traore in previous windows and once passed up the chance to sign him from Middlesbrough for £5m.
Now several reports claim Valencia have started talks to bring the former Barca youth star and Spanish international back to Spain in a loan deal with the option to buy.
And West Ham would be mad not to try and beat Los Che to the punch.
Moyes has worked wonders in turning wingers into potent strikers.
Marko Arnautovic and Michail Antonio have been revelations for West Ham as converted forwards under the Scot.
Hammers fans have long wondered what Moyes could do if he got hold of Traore.
The prospect of landing a player who was linked with a £40m move to Liverpool less than a year ago seems somewhat far-fetched.
But if there is a chance to get Traore on loan with an option to buy, then it is one West Ham surely can’t pass up trying to get involved in.
Traore could be the perfect alternative to injury prone Antonio.
Moyes would be able to test run using Traore as a striker and he would beef up West Ham’s attacking options as he can operate on both wings and as a wing-back too.
It will be interesting to see if Valencia’s reported interest develops into anything more concrete and Chelsea have also been mentioned as being interested in Traore in a similar deal.
The muscle-bound wide man has proved to be a thorn in West Ham’s side in recent seasons.
So much so that Hammers star Aaron Cresswell named Traore as his toughest opponent – and the one player he would like West Ham to sign so that he did not have to face him – in an interview during last season.