West Ham United target Abdoulaye Toure wants to leave Nantes this summer, president Waldemar Kita has told RMC Sport, translated by Maxifoot.
In truth, the writing has been on the wall for some time.
When Nantes started their pre-season preparations back in July, it was telling that Toure was not the man to lead his team mates out onto the pitch.
The Nantes-born midfielder had captained his hometown club last season but, with his departure looking increasingly likely, it is veteran centre-back Nicolas Pallois who is now wearing the armband with pride.
BuzzSport in July suggested that The Canaries will not stand in Toure’s way if he wishes to fly the metaphorical nest this summer.
And West Ham have been interested since January, with the £12.5 million-rated Toure capable of offering some depth in a Hammers side with Jack Wilshere and Carlos Sanchez in first reserve.
“Abdoulaye Toure has been in Nantes since he was five years old. He told us he wants to leave. If we receive a valid offer, he will leave,” says the always outspoken Kita.
West Ham have already paid substantially to sign Tomas Soucek after a superb loan spell from Slavia Prague.
Toure, a 6ft 2ins enforcer who loves to carry the ball from defence into attack, could forge a formidable trio alongside Soucek and Declan Rice, while allowing Mark Noble to rest up a little as he enters the autumn of his career.
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