West Ham United will be looking to sign a new striker this summer and the Hammers are set to reignite their interest in Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy, according to a report from the Evening Standard.
The 28-year-old was linked with a move to Newcastle during the January window, but the deal didn’t materialise. Incoming manager Julen Lopetegui is targeting a new centre-forward to provide the firepower to launch his tenure and could move for Guirassy.
West Ham technical director Tim Steitden is a long-time admirer of the player who could be open to leaving the club this summer, despite enjoying a phenomenal campaign where he scored 28 goals in a season.
Lopetegui has agreed to collaborate with Steidten on recruitment, and signing a striker will be a top priority. Steitden will be given more power over transfers this summer following David Moyes’s departure.
The striker has a release clause of just £15m and he would represent a “bargain” signing for the Hammers, should they manage to get his signature.
West Ham may struggle to sign Guirassy
The Hammers have struggled to sign a top-quality striker for a long time. They paid huge money for Sebastien Haller and Gianluca Scamacca, but both of them proved to be failures at the club, before shinning elsewhere.
Michail Antonio is approaching the fag end of his career, and it’s high time, the club sign a quality centre-forward. Antonio is expected to be part of Lopetegui’s plans for next season, but the club feel that a long-term replacement is needed.
Stuttgart finished second in the Bundesliga this season behind Bayer Leverkusen and will play in the Champions League next season. While many clubs, including West Ham, can trigger his clause, whether Guirassy will leave Champions League football to join the Hammers is a big question.
Nevertheless, he is likely to move in the summer window, and West Ham should fancy their chances.
