Carlos Bacca’s £26million switch to West Ham is nearing completion. The Clubs have reached an agreement and talks between West Ham and Bacca’s representatives are progressing well.
Another forward could soon follow Bacca to East London as Slaven Bilic looks to replace outbound Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho.
Toulouse teammates Wissam Ben Yedder and Martin Braithwaite are reported targets, signalling that Slaven is looking for a versatile, pacey forward capable of playing through the middle or out-wide – much like Valencia.
Braithwaite, 25, is a natural centre-forward capable of playing out wide or as a shadow striker. He has scored 28 and assisted 10 in 113 appearances for Toulouse, averaging a goal or assist every 222 minutes.
Ben Yedder, on the other hand, is a natural centre-forward, capable of playing as a shadow striker and has played right wing previously. His goalscoring record trumps Braithwaite’s, scoring 71 and assisting 21 in 174 appearances for Toulouse – averaging a goal every 134 minutes.
Both forwards would be available for a cut-price this summer with their contracts set to expire next summer.
In the summer when the first £100m player could be transferred, there are still a handful of bargains West Ham could snap up due to their expiring contracts. We take a look at five cheap striker alternatives to Braithwaite and Ben Yedder with contracts set to expire next summer.
