West Ham: Tore latest; Italian striker linked; bid rejected for star man

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Despite rumoured sightings at the club’s offices at Upton Park and expectations that his signing would be announced last week, HITC claim that a deal for Turkish winger Gokhan Tore will be completed this week. The deal has been a complex one for the Hammers to tie up, particularly as the club preferred a loan with an option to buy, rather than the immediate purchase option which Besiktas preferred.

The winger previously played under Slaven Bilic in his time as manager at the Turkish club, and the 24-year-old will bring skill and pace to the Hammer’s attack, with a reputation for being able to deliver a killer ball into the box. Tore is undoubtedly an upgrade on Victor Moses, whose loan expired at the end of last season.

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Whilst talks with Columbian forward Carlos Bacca continue, the club is preparing other options in case the AC Milan striker is unconvinced by the invitation to join up with West Ham at the Olympic Stadium.

One possible option, according to the Standard is Manolo Gabbiadini. The Napoli forward, who can also play out wide, has scored 13 goals in 42 games for his current club, and with six caps but only aged 24, there is still room for the Italian to improve so could prove a good buy if West Ham can find the right deal.

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An alternative would be Khouma El Babacar, reports Calcio Mercato. The Fiorentina man made just 13 appearances last season as he fell out of favour at the club, but scored six goals. That means that the Senegalese 23-year-old may be available more cheaply than some of the Hammers other targets and provide good quality cover for existing options up front.

Of the two players, it would seem that neither is particularly destined to be the man to lead the West Ham line, and would certainly be a disappointment after months of rumours linking them to the likes of Lacazette, Tevez and Bacca, but they are also both young players with potential to improve who are yet to be given a starring role in their sides. Both have the power and strength to do well in the Premier League and could be a bargain for Slaven Bilic.

Reports in the Express are claiming that the club has rejected an offer of £10 million for striker Enner Valencia. Italian outfit Lazio have made an offer for the striker as they seek to bounce back from Marcelo Bielsa’s resignation just two days after arriving, but their efforts have been rebuffed by the Hammers.

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Slaven Bilic is reportedly reluctant to let the forward go, and with the club already searching for other options up front, they do not want to lose a valued player in their current squad unless the offer is right. The Express claim that that fee would have to be at least £13 million, but with Bielsa claiming that his resignation was due to the club’s owner not being able to sign agreed transfer targets, it remains to be seen if the Rome club will be able to up their offer further.

The East London club may be more open to negotiations once they have signed one of their many striker transfer targets, but they continue to have little luck in this respect with any deal seemingly still some way off.

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