West Ham United have reportedly contacted French outfit Clermont Foot over the possibility of signing their star striker Mohamed Bayo.
What's the story?
According to French outlet Le10 Sport, the Hammers have made an approach for the 23-year-old, with Irons manager David Moyes desperate to add another forward to his ranks before the transfer window closes.
The report doesn't mention an expected price for Bayo, but a €10m (£8.5m) price tag has previously been stated for the Guinea international, a figure which would represent incredible value for money.
David Moyes needs him
Bayo has risen through the ranks at boyhood club Clermont and established himself as one of French football's most exciting young strikers following a fabulous 2020/21 campaign.
In 38 league appearances for Les Lanciers, the African bagged 22 goals, providing a further seven assists for his teammates as he fired them to promotion, sealing a place in Ligue 1 for the first time in the club's history.
Bayo has had no trouble adapting to the demands of the top flight in the early stages of the new season, putting the ball in the back of the net on three occasions in his first two outings as his team won on both occasions to make an impressive start to life in Ligue 1.
The 6 ft 1 hitman is famed for his natural finishing ability, something which is arguably lacking in Moyes' squad at the moment.
Following the departure of Sebastien Haller in January, Michail Antonio was left as the only recognised striker in West Ham's first team squad. With the 31-year-old's dodgy injury record and the added demands of European football this season, added reinforcements in the final third are badly needed at the London Stadium.
Therefore, GSB must get the chequebook out and sanction a move for Bayo, providing Moyes with the strength in depth that he needs in order to fight on multiple fronts.
On-loan goalkeeper Alphonse Areola is the Irons' only new acquisition of the summer so far, and the Scottish tactician will be desperate to change that before the current window closes in less than two weeks' time.
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