---
title: "Virals: West Ham ‘plotting a late swoop’ for Gaetan Laborde"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2021/08/20/virals-west-ham-plotting-a-late-swoop-for-gaetan-laborde/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2021-08-20T08:30:00Z"
modified: "2021-08-20T08:30:00Z"
---

# Virals: West Ham ‘plotting a late swoop’ for Gaetan Laborde

[West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2021/08/19/paul-robinson-believes-west-ham-could-face-battle-to-sign-jesse-lingard/) are reportedly ‘plotting a late swoop’ for Montpellier striker [Gaetan Laborde](https://readwestham.com/2021/01/19/west-ham-gaetan-laborde-offer-rejected-montpellier/) in this transfer window.

The Hammers are [still in need](https://www.whufc.com/teams/first-team/squad) of a striker to support Michail Antonio having failed to replace Sebastien Haller.

Having had a [bid rejected](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jan/19/west-ham-fail-with-offer-for-montpellier-striker-gaetan-laborde) back in January, the Irons are being linked with the 27-year-old is once again.

That’s according to a report from [Foot Mercato](https://www.footmercato.net/a7915933983436131407-rennes-et-west-ham-pensent-a-gaetan-laborde), as cited by [West Ham Fan Zone](https://twitter.com/WHUFCFZ/status/1428461963621945345) on Twitter.

> Twitter: West Ham are plotting a late swoop for Montpellier striker Gaetan Laborde.
>
> The 27-year-old scored 16 goals and pic… https://t.co/GuXWCBvg8D (@WHUFCFZ)

The report claims Rennes are also interested in a move for the former [French youth international](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/gaetan-laborde/nationalmannschaft/spieler/181378/verein_id/23658).

Last season Laborde [scored 16 and assisted eight goals](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/gaetan-laborde/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/181378) in 38 Ligue 1 appearances – earning an impressive [7.12 average Sofascore rating](https://www.sofascore.com/player/gaetan-laborde/149730) in the process.

Starting this term on the right-wing, the versatile forward has [netted in the first two league games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/gaetan-laborde/leistungsdaten/spieler/181378) of the season.

### READ WEST HAM VERDICT

Valued at £13.5million and under contract until 2023 in France ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/gaetan-laborde/marktwertverlauf/spieler/181378)), signing Laborde could cost in the region of £11million.

Given the Frenchman’s start to the new season, West Ham could attempt to bring the hardworking star to the London Stadium over the next fortnight.

Credited with [strong finishing ability](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/140051/Show/Ga%C3%ABtan-Laborde) and aerial prowess, David Moyes could land the ideal Antonio understudy.