West Ham and Wolves to battle in the race to sign £25m striker | OneFootball

West Ham Enter Race for Guessand as Potter Plots Forward Line Reinvention

West Ham weigh up move for Guessand

West Ham United are readying themselves for a competitive summer transfer window with a bid for Nice striker Evann Guessand, as Graham Potter looks to reshape an attack that struggled throughout last season. The 23-year-old Ivory Coast international is attracting strong interest from Wolverhampton Wanderers, who are in a stronger financial position following the £62.5 million sale of Matheus Cunha to Manchester United. According to the Daily Mail.

Guessand netted 13 times for Nice in Ligue 1 last season, helping them secure a fourth-place finish and European qualification. With three years left on his current deal, he is expected to be available for a fee in the region of £20–25 million. Wolves appear better placed to act immediately, but West Ham are keen to stay in the running, provided they can generate funds through player sales.

Photo: IMAGO

Sales may hold key to summer activity

The need to sell before buying has placed greater scrutiny on potential exits, particularly that of Mohammed Kudus, who could command a significant fee. The Hammers are also open to offers for Niclas Fullkrug, while Michail Antonio is out of contract following a lengthy injury lay-off.

Photo: IMAGO

Potter, who replaced David Moyes mid-season, is expected to be backed but will have to be measured in his approach. His focus is to breathe life into a squad that accumulated just 43 points last term and frequently lacked threat in the final third.

Photo IMAGO

With Wolves already committed to spending £23 million on Jorgen Strand Larsen, they could yet hold an advantage in the race for Guessand. Still, West Ham’s interest remains firm, and a deal could progress quickly if player exits are finalised.

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Evann Guessand looks like a smart, hungry option — not just another big-name gamble, but a striker with genuine upside who’s proven himself in a top European league. Thirteen goals for Nice in a tactically disciplined Ligue 1 side is no small feat.

West Ham fans have known for a while that the attack needs major surgery. Antonio’s time has probably come to an end, Fullkrug never quite clicked, and although Kudus offers quality, he feels more like a No.10 than a natural centre-forward. If they need to sell to make moves happen, so be it — the squad needs rebalancing.

What’s really encouraging is that this feels like a Graham Potter signing. Technically sharp, mobile, tactically adaptable. If they can land Guessand, it sends a message that the rebuild is underway and that they’re not waiting to be left behind in the market.