AC Milan winger and striker M’Baye Niang is being pursued by West Ham after the player’s strong loan spell at Genoa, playing 14 games with five goals and two assists.
This is not the first time West Ham have enquired over Niang. In 2014, the club had interest in the 20-year-old, but the deal broke down. West Ham need more depth in their squad after just three wins thus far in 2015. Sam Allardyce’s agent will meet with West Ham co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan, along with vice-chairman Karren Brady to discuss the gaffer’s future at the club. Big Sam, however, will already be on vacation with his grandchildren in Spain less than 24 hours after West Ham play Newcastle at St. James’ Park on Sunday for the last match of the season.
With the new manager hunt beginning, the search for new players to bolster the squad for Europa League is also beginning. Key injuries on attack to the likes of Enner Valencia, Diafra Sakho, and Andy Carroll over different parts of the season brought a severe goal-scoring drought, and a dip into the bottom half of the Premier League table.
Niang had trouble with breaking into the first team at Milan. He has only slotted in one goal for Milan, which came in his first appearance at the club as a 17-year-old in the Coppa Italia. However, the successful loan that began in January to fellow Italian Serie A club Genoa proved the skill and potential of the player. For West Ham, Niang could be an excellent pickup due to his pace and ability to create. Also, the Hammers have a lack of wingers at the club. Matt Jarvis has fallen out of playtime this year, and Stewart Downing seems much more suited for a role in an attacking central midfield role than his traditional position out wide. Playing Valencia wide in the role where Niang is more suited took away Valencia’s productivity throughout the year.
While the young Frenchman has interest from Udinese as well as the Hammers, the Premier League may attract Niang to East London more than staying in Italy. Niang did express back in March his openness to staying at Genoa for another season, but AC Milan have Niang under contract until the summer of 2017, and may be open to cashing in on him to a team they will not face every year. Niang did score a goal against Milan in late April to help lift Genoa to a 3-1 victory.
