West Ham target Serhou Guirassy as competition mounts for striker's bargain £15m release clause
West Ham are considering a summer move for Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy as Julen Lopetegui targets a new centre-forward to provide the firepower to launch his tenure.
Guirassy finished second to Harry Kane in the race for the Bundesliga golden boot, scoring 28 times in as many league matches for a Stuttgart side that leapfrogged Bayern Munich on the final day to finish second to unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen.
The Guinea international only signed for Stuttgart permanently last summer following a successful loan spell from Koln but appears likely to move on in the upcoming window, with Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund also among those keen.
The 28-year-old’s contract includes a release clause of just £15million and Stuttgart know they will struggle to hold onto their prized asset despite themselves qualifying for the Champions League next term.
West Ham technical director Tim Steitden is a long-time admirer of the forward and is set to be given more control over transfers this summer following David Moyes’ departure.
Lopetegui, whose appointment as West Ham’s new manager is due to be confirmed later this week, has agreed to work in collaboration with Steidten on recruitment following tensions between the former Leverkusen director and Moyes.
West Ham have historically struggled to sign centre-forwards, with even the likes of Sebastien Haller and Gianluca Scamacca failing to fire in east London before returning to form elsewhere.
Jarrod Bowen finished as the club’s top-scorer this term with 20 goals across competitions, displaying his versatility by filling in at centre-forward for much of the campaign, before Michail Antonio’s return to fitness during the run-in.
Antonio is expected to be part of Lopetegui’s plans given the Spaniard tried to sign the 34-year-old during his time as Wolves manager, but there is an acceptance that the Hammers’ long-standing striker problem must be addressed again this summer.
The club will listen to offers for Danny Ings, though the former England international’s hefty £125,000-a-week is again likely to prove a stumbling block for potential suitors.
Young striker Divin Mubama, who briefly threatened a first-team breakthrough earlier in the season, is expected to leave when his contract expires next month.
