An update has emerged on Montpellier forward Gaetan Laborde, regarding West Ham's interest in his services.

What's the talk?

According to French outlet Midi Libre, via West Ham News, David Moyes is plotting to make an offer to Montpellier for Gaetan Laborde in the early part of next week.

The report claims that West Ham are one of a number of clubs interested in landing the striker, but they are the only side who are expected to submit a bid imminently.

Excitement

West Ham fans will surely be left excited by this update on Laborde. It shows that West Ham are making moves behind the scenes and are actively trying to secure recruits to bolster Moyes' squad.

This will give supporters hope that the club can get some business done before the end of the transfer deadline, potentially starting with a deal for the French striker.

Whilst the report does not state how much the offer is worth to Montpellier, it would seem pointless for the Hammers to make a bid at this stage in the window unless they believe it is an acceptable one. You might be able to get away with lowballing teams and trying to negotiate a cheaper fee earlier in the summer as you have the time to either work on it or move on to other targets if it fails.

However, with less than 10 days to go before the window slams shut, West Ham cannot afford to waste time. This is why fans should be excited that the Hammers are preparing an official move for Laborde, as it - given the timescale - indicates that they believe a deal can be done.

Fans should also love this news due to the quality of the player. Laborde produced 16 goals and eight assists in Ligue 1 last season, averaging an excellent WhoScored rating of 7.25 - showing that he was able to consistently deliver quality performances along with his goals and assists. He has also started the current campaign with four goals in six starts in all competitions.

Michail Antonio was West Ham's top scorer in the Premier League with 10 strikes last term, which suggests that Laborde could be an upgrade on their existing options if he is able to translate his form over from France to England. At worst, though, he could come in and push Antonio hard for his spot in the team, increasing competition for places and potentially lifting the standard in training.

AND in other news, Get it done: GSB must complete West Ham move for 22-goal marksman, Moyes needs him...