Should a move to the Premier League come about for Adama Bojang – the Reims forward on the respective radars of Brentford, Crystal Palace, Everton and West Ham United – the headlines almost write themselves.
Mr Bojang-goals, anyone?
After netting six times on loan at Swiss outfit Grasshoppers last season, the 21-year-old Gambian clearly possesses plenty of potential in the final third. Potential which may soon prove to be a manna from heaven for all pun-loving headline writers with a deep knowledge of 1960s country music.
All of those six goals came during his final 12 appearances in the Swiss Super League. Half of them were scored in April’s victory over FC Luzern. The first hat-trick of the youngster’s senior career.
After a sluggish start in Switzerland, the spring-heeled striker exploded into life during the spring.
And if West Ham United are a team in need of some pace and athleticism in the final third – Niclas Fullkrug plans to stay at the London Stadium but major doubts persist over his lack of mobility – then a forward so destructively quick he has been nicknamed ‘the hurricane’ might prove to be an inspired piece of business.
Especially if reports claiming that Ligue 1 outfit Reims are holding out for £10 million prove to be wide of the mark.
Adama Bojang during Gambia v Uruguay: Round of 16 - FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023
Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
West Ham United interest in Reims striker Adama Bojang backed up
Amid claims that David Moyes’ Everton are ready to battle West Ham for a striker rapidly emerging as one of the hottest young forwards on the market, The Guardian’s Ed Aarons believes there may be a deal to be done for much less than previously suggested.
Writing on X this Wednesday, Aarons reports that Brentford and seven-time European champions AC Milan have joined an ever-growing pursuit, alongside West Ham.
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There is also a confidence that Reims may be willing to consider bids as low as £5 million.
So while Adama Bojang is hardly a guarantee of success – a 21-year-old with nine goalless appearances in France’s top flight under his belt – a reported £5 million price-tag means this falls nicely into the category of ‘low risk, high reward’.
And with West Ham looking to ‘reinvent’ Graham Potter’s squad around a core of young, hungry talent, Bojang would be a fitting first signing for one-time Brighton and Hove Albion scout Kyle Macaulay at the London Stadium.
Bojang demonstrated his ‘formidable technique’ during Switzerland loan spell
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of that Luzern hat-trick was the variety of Bojang’s three finishes.
With the opposition goalkeeper stranded, Bojang clipped his first of the afternoon over two retreating defenders into the far corner. His second was a subtle near-post flick. And the strike which secured his treble, a thumping header from a booming cross.
“The 20-year-old from Gambia shone in every respect in the duel with FC Luzern,” Swiss publication Blick wrote in their post-match autopsy. “The Grasshoppers striker impressed with his formidable technique.
“The loanee from Stade Reims demonstrated why he can be expected to have a promising career in the future.”
Where that career takes him, however, remains to be seen.