West Ham are unlikely to table a bid for Saint-Etienne striker Lucas Stassin, according to reports.
The Hammers have been heavily linked with the Belgian in recent days, with some comparing him to former Manchester United and Chelsea star Romelu Lukaku.
A bid of around £20m to £25m could be enough to secure Stassin’s signature this summer, but a club’s spokesman has told Hammers News that talks with Saint-Etienne have not taken place:
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“It is simply not true. We can’t buy until we sell.”
What do fans need to know about Stassin?
The forward is only 20 years of age but he had a decent season for Saint-Etienne, scoring 14 goals and contributing 8 assists in all competitions.
It was Stassin’s first campaign in France, having been purchased from Belgian club Westerlo for €10m last summer.
If West Ham do enter negotiations for the player, they would need to raise significant funds first, based on the spokesperson’s remarks. There has been contradictory reporting on the club’s PSR situation. Reliable journalists, such as David Ornstein, insist that the Irons have money to spend, while sources close to the club have repeatedly said that sales are required.
Are West Ham looking at other strikers?
Head coach Graham Potter could soon be left with just one recognised No.9 in the first team squad. Evan Ferguson will return to Brighton following his loan spell, while Danny Ings will depart on a free transfer when his contract expires. There is also uncertainty about Michail Antonio’s future, and it could mean that Niclas Fullkrug is the only option left available to the manager.
For that reason, links to forwards have been plentiful. In addition to Stassin, Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade, Hamburg’s Davie Selke, Lille’s Jonathan David, Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ajax’s Brian Brobbey have all been mentioned as possible targets.
In other news, West Ham are set to lose out to Chelsea in the race for a Strasbourg defender