West Ham contemplate adding third Senegalese to first team
Published:
West Ham incurred the wrath of the Senegalese FA when withholding ‘injured’ striker Diafra Sakho from January’s Africa Cup of Nations, but the incident hasn’t put the Irons off targeting a third Lions of Teranga star.
The Express believes Fenerbahce’s Moussa Sow is the centre-forward new Boleyn Ground boss Slaven Bilic wants heading into the new campaign, with a £12m bid in the offing for the 29-year-old.
Sow has a fine Super Lig strike rate with last season’s Turkish title runners-up, having bagged 51 goals in 106 matches since signing on at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium four years ago, and started for Fener on their return to Europe after a two-term match-fixing ban against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.
However, the arrival of former Manchester United and Arsenal hotshot Robin van Persie will put huge pressure on Sow’s place in the side, so a move could well be on the cards.
During his 18 months with French outfit Lille between 2010-2012, Sow notched a superb tally of 31 goals in 54 league fixtures, top scoring in Ligue 1 en route to Les Dogues taking the title for the first time in 57 years during the Senegalese’s only full campaign at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
A move to east London would see Sow link up with international teammates Sakho and Cheikhou Kouyate, who were signed last summer for combined fees totaling more than £10m.
Sunderland are also thought to be in the hunt for Sow though, having been touted as a potential home for the striker during the last transfer window in January.
With the Black Cats’ forward ranks in need of refreshing, and the futures of striking trio Steven Fletcher, Danny Graham and Connor Wickham far from assured, the France-born hitman may see a simpler route to first-team action in the north east.
On the other hand, he may not fancy Sunderland’s annual battle against relegation, with Dick Advocaat’s side priced up at 7/4 to go down next spring.
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