While West Ham United make progress in pursuit of goalkeeping duo John Victor and Mads Hermansen, bombshell reports from France suggest that a new addition could soon be arriving at the other end of the pitch too.
The concern surrounding the arrival of Callum Wilson at the London Stadium was, at the very least, understandable.
West Ham signed the former Newcastle poacher on a free transfer last weekend, before stepping up their interest in both John Victor and Mads Hermansen of Botafogo and Leicester City respectively.
One-time Hammers boss Harry Redknapp said it best, really. Callum Wilson can be an ‘outstanding’ centre-forward on his day. Though how many days does he realistically have left, with a never-ending string of injuries taking their toll on his 33-year-old limbs?
But should West Ham United also succeed in bringing a younger, fitter, faster, more long-term striker target to East London, that will improve the mood of a frustrated fanbase no end.
Foot Mercato released an Idrissa Gueye-shaped bolt from the proverbial blue on Wednesday afternoon.
West Ham United reportedly enter talks to sign Metz striker Idrissa Gueye
According to the French publication, West Ham are ‘desperate’ to bring Idrissa Gueye to the English capital.
The once-capped Senegal international was on the respective radars of Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund but, according to Foot Mercato, the Hammers have stolen a march on both of the European powerhouses.
Talks with Metz are allegedly ‘progressing well’. West Ham are ‘preparing an offer’, too, with the Grenats expected to consider offers in the region of £13 million.
Idrissa Gueye is, to put it simply, a centre-forward who sits at the complete opposite end of the spectrum to Callum Wilson. At the age of just 18, the Senegalese teenager is 15 years Wilson’s junior.
Gueye – whose ‘speed, maturity, and potential’ caught the eye during his breakout campaign, to quote Foot Mercato – feels very much like a typical Borussia Dortmund sort of signing. As things stand, however, the club who set Ousmane Dembele, Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland and more on the path to superstardom appear to be trailing in West Ham’s wake.
Gueye likened to Olivier Giroud and following in Sadio Mane’s footsteps
Metz are known across the Channel as one of France’s best clubs when it comes to unearthing and developing rough diamonds.
West Ham’s own Maxwel Cornet emerged through their ‘Centre de Formation’ academy. Miralem Pjanic, Ismaila Sarr, Georges Mikautadze, Pape Matar Sarr, Franck Ribery, Diafra Sakho, Louis Saha and Liverpool icon – and compatriot – Sadio Mane can all trace their roots back to Metz.
Idrissa Gueye, should he move to West Ham for a cool £13 million, will become one of the biggest sales in their history.
The jet-heeled teenager scored a highly-impressive six goals in just 13 Ligue 2 starts since moving from Generation Foot in his native Senegal in January, helping Metz secure promotion back to France’s top-tier.
With his 6ft 2ins frame, his impressive aerial ability and excellent footwork, Gueye has been likened to a young Olivier Giroud by a man who knows the former Arsenal, Chelsea, Milan and France striker very well indeed.
“I had the chance, a long time ago, to meet Olivier Giroud,” says Metz sporting director Frederic Arpinon, who worked with Giroud at Istres all the way back in 2007/08. “And [Gueye] reminds me a little of him. I hope for him that he will have the same trajectory.
“He has all the qualities of the modern striker. He has the technique, plays with both feet and has a very good header.”
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