West Ham are being linked with a move for Fiorentina striker Khouma Babacar this summer, who is also a transfer target for Premier League rivals Everton and Crystal Palace.
According to Italian source Tuttomercatoweb, the Senegalese striker is tipped for a move to the Premier League following his performances for la Viola in Serie A.
The 23-year-old netted seven times in 24 appearances for Fiorentina last season and has three-years left to run on his current contract at the club having been there since he was 15.
However, it’s understood that manager Paulo Sousa is ready to part ways with the striker who remains a fringe player in his first-team squad and he could be available for just £10m this summer.
Everton are keen to bring in Babacar as a potential replacement for Romelu Lukaku who looks set to leave the club after Euro 2016, while West Ham and Crystal Palace are both keeping tabs on the forward.
The Hammers have been linked with a number of strikers this summer but are currently no closer to that big-name forward they’re so eager to sign.
Today they made a renewed offer to Lyon for Alexandre Lacazette in the region of £32m – more than double the current club-record fee of £15m they shelled out for Andy Carroll.
It’s also believed that Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi has rejected a contract offer from the Hammers worth £80,000-a-week after they agreed to pay the £31m asking price. The Belgian striker has informed all parties that he wants to join Tottenham but they are yet to meet the Ligue 1 side’s demands.
One potential outgoing from East London this summer would be Diafra Sakho. The former FC Metz striker handed in a transfer request today after Sunderland made an improved £12m bid for his services. It’s understood that positive talks between the two clubs have taken place and Sakho is likely to make the move.
