West Ham and Newcastle face a new threat in their reported tussle for powerful 110-goal striker Gaetan Laborde.
West Ham have already spent £30m taking Nayef Aguerd from Rennes this summer.
And yesterday it emerged the Hammers are vying with Premier League rivals Newcastle United to re-open lines of communication with the French club for their striker Laborde.
TuttoMercatoWeb claim the 28-year-old forward is wanted by both West Ham boss David Moyes and Newcastle counterpart Eddie Howe before the window closes next Thursday.
Homme Du Match claimed back in January that the Ligue 1 club are prepared to sell Laborde but only for around £30 million.
Moyes and Howe have both made it clear they want to add more goals to their teams.
West Ham’s need looks a little more acute after a dismal start to the new season while Newcastle are looking in good shape having gone unbeaten in their opening three games.
Reports have suggested it will be a straight fight between the Hammers and the Magpies for the 28-year-old Frenchman.
But now West Ham and Newcastle face a new threat in the tussle for powerful 110-goal striker Laborde.
According to L’Équipe and Get French Football News, Spanish club Sevilla – who West Ham memorably knocked out of last season’s Europa League – are seriously thinking about an approach to try and beat Moyes and Howe to the signing of Laborde.
“The 28-year-old is under contract in Rennes until 2025 but he has been interesting several clubs this off-season after making it into double figures for goal contributions in each of the last four Ligue 1 seasons via 36 goals and 18 assists over three league seasons in Montpellier before adding 12 goals and eight assists for Rennes in 21/22,” L’Équipe and Get French Football News report.
“OGC Nice enquired for Laborde last week but Les Aiglons are prioritising other forward targets such as Ben Brereton Díaz and Edinson Cavani while Lille, Newcastle and Sevilla have all also shown an interest in €20-25m (£17-21m) rated striker this summer.”
West Ham boss Moyes finally ended an 18-month search for a new striker when he signed Ginluca Scamacca earlier this summer for £35m.
And Newcastle look set to sign Joao Pedro from Watford for £30m according to the likes of The Sun.
But big squads are going to be needed for this compacted season and Laborde would be well worth a gamble at the reported £17-21m for both West Ham and Newcastle.