Graham Potter and Kyle Macaulay have finally got down to business with the ‘first’ transfer window open. Most business will be done after 15th June when the full ‘summer season’ gets under way but early signs linking the Hammers with strikers are emerging. Several have faded including the now less likely interest in [Baris Alper Yilmaz.](https://www.claretandhugh.info/galatasaray-manager-wants-to-keep-hold-of-yilmaz/)
Of course, West Ham do need to sell to buy so the recurring stories linking Chelsea with Mohammed Kudus and now Nayef Aguerd with Marseille will at least give some comfort that there will be a transfer kitty.
From todays [dailymail.co.uk](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-14786831/West-Ham-transfer-news-Kudus-Chelsea-Bowen-Potter-targets.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=social-twitter_dailymailsport) comes more good news: It seems the price required to land top young striker target **Lucas Stassin** is a very West Ham -friendly level:
_“Recent links to 20-year-old Belgian striker Lucas Stassin at Saint-Etienne make sense. It’s a position West Ham need to strengthen, he fits the profile, has superb stats among strikers under the age of 21 in Europe’s top leagues and the French club are likely to accept a cut price of **£18m** following their relegation to Ligue 2.”_
Eighteen million puts Stassin at around the same level likely to be received for Aguerd after agent costs and fees: For a 12 goals in 28 games young forward that is pretty good money, with the chance that West Ham could find themselves with a fast appreciating asset over the next three years if he can repeat his success in the Premier League.