Encouragingly, the same old, same old names appear to be falling by the wayside as West Ham are linked with younger, fitter, faster and less expensive striker options. The recent reports (which I have studiously ignored) relating to Tammy Abraham ignore his age, fitness issues and cost.
So to see RB Salzburg’s **Karim Konaté** reported today in the [dailymail.co.uk](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-14757307/West-Ham-transfer-news-targets-Bowen-Paqueta-Kudus.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=social-twitter_dailymailsport) as one of West Ham’s top striker choices is a reinforcement of all things good which we are hopping to see from the Potter / Macaulay recruitment combo this summer. Konaté was featured last month in a [C and H report](https://www.claretandhugh.info/west-ham-eye-red-bull-jet-heeled-striking-sensation/) thanks to his prolific scoring this season in the Austrian Bundesliga – 24 goals in 47 appearances speaks both of his fitness and goal scoring prowess.
At just 21 years of age, the Ivorian has already been capped by his country 19 times which speaks for his talent. Likely to be priced around £15 million plus, he’s an ideal example of a player on an upward trajectory with much to gain from a move to the Premier League.
As described by _breakingthelines.com_ in 2023, Konaté is already beginning to deliver on the potential observed two years ago:
_“Karim Konate is arguably the most exciting talent to come out of the Ivory Coast in the past couple of years. Providing the physicality of Sebastian Haller, the dribbling of Jeremie Boga, and the finishing of Wilfried Zaha, Konate is the complete package.”_
Yes please, just what the doctor ordered. Convincing him to come and join ‘the project’ at West Ham will be the hard sell.