West Ham United have entered the race to sign Rodez striker Ibrahima Baldé as Nuno Espírito Santo looks to add further firepower before the transfer deadline.
The Hammers are reportedly prepared to meet Rodez’s demands for the 23-year-old, who has attracted significant interest from Rangers after an outstanding start to the Ligue 2 season.
Abdel Hamed reports, via Rangers News, that West Ham have now entered the race for Baldé, with the Championship club ready to move decisively for the forward.
West Ham enter Ibrahima Balde transfer race
Baldé has emerged as one of the most intriguing lower-cost attacking options available during the closing stages of the window.
The French-Senegalese forward scored 12 Ligue 2 goals last season and has begun the new campaign in excellent form.
Rangers have been tracking the striker throughout the summer, but previous reporting indicated Rodez were seeking around £2.5million for Baldé.
West Ham are now understood to be willing to meet those demands.
That does not yet mean a formal £2.5m bid has been submitted, but the Hammers’ emergence represents a significant threat to Rangers’ hopes of completing the transfer.
£2.5m could make Balde an attractive West Ham gamble
The finances make the move particularly interesting.
West Ham have spent much of the closing stages of the window pursuing considerably more expensive young attacking targets.
The Hammers have already agreed a deal with Viking for Edvin Austbø, with the Norwegian winger now in London to complete his medical.
West Ham have also seen a major offer for Mohamed Ali Zoma rejected by Nürnberg as their search for attacking quality continues.
Against that backdrop, Baldé’s reported £2.5m valuation represents a very different proposition.
Rather than committing another eight-figure fee, West Ham could add a 23-year-old forward already producing consistently at senior level for a relatively modest outlay.
That makes the potential upside obvious.
Balde would add another option to Nuno’s attack
Nuno already has Joël Piroe and Valentín Castellanos available centrally, while Jarrod Bowen and Manor Solomon provide established quality in wider positions.
West Ham nevertheless remain short of attacking depth across a long Championship campaign.
The need for more threat was reinforced during Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Watford, when the Hammers struggled to turn possession into clear goalscoring opportunities.
Our full Watford match report detailed another frustrating afternoon as West Ham’s winless league start continued.
Adding a striker enjoying Baldé’s current form would therefore give Nuno another option when rotating his frontline or attempting to change games from the bench.
West Ham’s need for greater attacking variety has also been a recurring theme throughout the window, with our analysis of the club’s winger recruitment highlighting the limited senior depth available around Bowen and Solomon.
Rangers still provide competition
West Ham have not won the race yet.
Rangers remain interested and Baldé is reportedly open to an Ibrox move, although earlier Rangers News reporting suggested the Scottish club had not yet submitted a formal offer.
Interest has also emerged elsewhere in France, meaning Rodez could still have several options before the deadline.
West Ham’s financial position should nevertheless allow them to move quickly if they decide Baldé is a priority.
That could prove significant during the final stages of the window.
West Ham continue late attacking push
The interest in Baldé adds another name to an increasingly active West Ham recruitment picture.
Austbø is already approaching completion, while the club continue to assess further attacking options as Nuno waits for his squad to be finalised.
West Ham’s poor Championship start only increases the importance of getting those decisions right.
Two points from nine have already increased scrutiny on Nuno, and our analysis of the five-game run now facing the West Ham boss underlined how quickly the pressure could build if results do not improve.
There is no agreement yet with Rodez or Baldé.
But with West Ham now reportedly prepared to meet the French club’s demands, the in-form striker has become a genuine late-window option rather than another speculative name on the shortlist.west ham transfer news
