West Ham United want to sign Barcelona striker Martin Brathwaite this summer as Dan Ripley at the Mail Online reports.
David Moyes’ side have struggled up front this season and the Hammers regard Brathwaite as a suitable striker to bolster their attacking options.
West Ham United Preparing Surprise Move for Barcelona forward Martin Braithwaite
Improvement in Attack
Braithwaite scored eight goals in 30 appearances in all competitions for CD Leganés before joining Barcelona in February.
So far this season, West Ham have scored 35 goals in 29 games this season. Record signing Sebastien Haller is the club’s top scorer with seven goals in 29 appearances.
There is a lack of competition for Haller at the club currently. Back-up striker Albian Ajeti offers little and has made just 11 appearances for the Hammers. The 23-year-old hasn’t scored or registered an assist since joining from FC Basel in 2019.
Braithwaite is targeted as the player to offer genuine competition upfront at the London Stadium next season.
Facing Competition
However, West Ham faces competition for Braithwaite’s signature. Everton reportedly wants the Norweigan, while Serie A clubs Sassuolo and Torino are keeping tabs on the 28-year-old.
Barcelona signed Braithwaite for £15 million from CD Leganés in February. The Catalan club utilised an emergency transfer following long-term injuries to Ousmane Dembélé and Luis Suarez.
But the La Liga side hope to break even on the sale of Braithwaite, even though the club may have to settle for a knockdown fee.
Braithwaite will be surplus to requirements once injured strikers Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembélé return when La Liga resumes.
A Good Fit for West Ham
Braithwaite’s move to Barcelona was a big surprise to many. However, the Spanish giants signed the Danish striker out of necessity rather than desire. He made just three appearances before the La Liga was suspended and didn’t complete a full 90 minutes.
However, the striker showed plenty of quality at CD Leganés, scoring 13 goals and making eight assists during his two spells at the club between 2018 and 2020.
He would fit well as a lone striker in Moyes’ preferred 4-3-3 system. The £15 million price tag would also be appealing for the East London club. The Hammers may be reluctant to commit to big-money signings after spending £75 million last summer.
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