Leroy Sane’s move to Manchester City could pave the way for West Ham United to finally land a marquee striker signing.
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic
The Hammers have been linked with a host of top strikers this summer but have already missed out on Dutch star Vincent Janssen after he opted to join Spurs as well as Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette despite having a record £31 million bid accepted.
Bilic also failed with a bid to lure Belgian star Michy Batshuayi who instead joined London rivals Chelsea.
A rumoured move for Liverpool’s Christian Benteke and talk of bids for Juventus duo Simone Zaza and Mario Mandzukic have gone quiet.
Since then West Ham have turned their attentions to AC Milan‘s Colombian star striker Carlos Bacca but that too is in limbo.
Leroy Sane has signed for Manchester City
Striker search driving Bilic in-Sane
Sane has signed a five-year deal at the Etihad Stadium for a reported £37million, further bolstering new manager Pep Guardiola’s striking options ahead of the new season following the capture of Spaniard Nolito earlier this summer.
The 20-year-old German is rated as one of Europe’s top prospects and his signing is a statement of intent from Guardiola who knows the player well from his time as Bayern Munich manager.
But it is also potentially good news for West Ham could now rekindle their longstanding interest in out of favour City striker Wilfried Bony.
It hasn’t worked for Bony at Manchester City
Hammers could rekindle interest in Bony
David Sullivan revealed last year he regretted signing Andy Carroll over Bony when the Hammers splashed a club record £18m on the big Geordie while Swansea City ended up signing the Ivory Coast forward instead – as reported by the Telegraph at the time.
Bony has been rarely used by City since making his own big money move from Wales to Manchester, scoring six goals in 36 appearances for the club.
But his goal record before that stands up to scrutiny with a record of a goal every other game.
Manchester City’s Wilfried Bony looks dejected
A move to suit all parties
Bilic was linked with a move for Bony earlier this summer, as reported by the Daily Star, and now the Ivorian’s chances of first team football are even more remote it could be a move that suits all parties.
City would recoup some of the major outlay they paid Swansea, Bony would be a guaranteed starter at the Olympic Stadium and the Hammers would have their marquee 20-goal a season striker.
At 27 Bony is a decent age too and the Hammers should get his peak years if they do manage to lure him to East London.
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