The Hammers are keeping tabs on 28-year-old £7m-rated French striker Anthony Modeste of FC Köln. Modeste scored 15 goals for the Bundesliga club in 34 appearances, making Modeste the fifth-leading goal scorer in the Bundesliga.
Modeste has scored 62 career goals in 138 appearances, with a solid record at his last three clubs. In 36 appearances over two seasons, Modeste scored 19 goals for Hoffenheim, and while on loan in 2012/13 at Bastia, Modeste scored 15 goals in 35 appearances in Ligue 1.
Modeste has experience in England before, playing in five matches for Blackburn Rovers while on loan from Bordeaux in 2012.
West Ham scramble for a new striker after Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia are linked with moves away from the Hammers.
West Ham face competition for Modeste from Chinese club Beijing Guoan, who are reportedly readying a transfer bid for Köln to consider. Beijing Guoan are prepared to offer an attractive contract to tempt Modeste to China.
West Ham are also in talks with AC Milan striker M’Baye Niang. The Hammers’ attempts to sign Alexandre Lacazette have hit a stalemate, according to West Ham’s Insider. Strikers Michy Batshuayi, Christian Benteke, and Wilfried Bony are all still being monitored by West Ham as possible options.
