West Ham: Sakho's future confirmed; improved left-back bid; Gomez update

By Sam Leveridge

Diafra Sakho is now nearing completion of a move to West Brom, say the Guardian. The Senegal striker had made it clear that he had no interest in remaining at the club by refusing to join the club’s Austrian tour as he sought a return to first team football after a stop and start year with the Hammers.

For a fee of £15 million and with Jonathan Calleri lined up, the Irons are now prepared to let him go, with confirmation expected in the next 24 hours.

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Sakho looks set to replace Sadio Berahino for the Baggies, and will relish the opportunity of being first choice, even if it means sacrificing his chance to play Europa League football at the Olympic Stadium.

With striker a key area for reinforcements this summer, West Ham fans won’t lose much sleep over his departure, with a questionable record, and they’ve got a good price for him at £15 million.

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This money may well help in part to fund a move for a left-back to replace Aaron Cresswell whilst he is out with a serious knee injury. Speculation had suggested that a £3 million bid for Norwich and Sweden defender Martin Olsson had been rejected, but the Daily Mail now report that Slaven Bilic is ready to up the offer to £4 million with the Swede the first choice target to fill the void.

A player with vast experience on the international scene and at Premier League level with Blackburn and Norwich, Olsson is believed to be keen on the move, and with just one year left on his current deal at Carrow Road, it seems that the two clubs will be able to come to an agreement to see Olsson wear the claret and blue of the Hammers this season.

The only sticking point may well be that the bid comes just days before the Canaries kick off their Championship campaign, and will begrudge being given so little time to find a replacement.

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However, according to the Express there is nothing in reports linking the Irons with a move for Germany striker Mario Gomez. They cite Turkish sources who claim that the president of Besiktas, where Gomez was on loan last season and where Bilic was previously manager, says that he has spoken recently with Bilic, who denied having any interest in the player.

The Turkish club also claim that Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund are in negotiations as they consider a move for the forward who led his country’s line at Euro 2016.

It therefore seems unlikely that a move would have been very successful even if there was an interest from the Hammers. Bilic is believed to have prioritised other targets, such as Swansea’s Andre Ayew, in the hunt for a prolific striker to fire his side to the next level.

Featured Image: All rights reserved by Ai Kagou.