Martin Braithwaite, a reported West Ham target and Barcelona striker, may now opt to stay in Spain, according to Mundo Deportivo. David Moyes is rumoured to be interested in signing Braithwaite this summer. According to reports, the Hammers were reportedly in talks for a £12.8 million deal to bring the Danish forward to London a few weeks ago. However, according to Mundo Deportivo, those talks with West Ham have stalled. Furthermore, given Braithwaite’s cheap salary compared to the rest of the squad, it’s believed that Barcelona will not pressurise him to go. In all honesty, who could blame him? Who wants to leave Barcelona? While the London Stadium is a great arena, it isn’t one of the best stadiums in the world like the Nou Camp.
For the Catalan club, the forward was a surprise signing. Since signing, he has battled for both games and goals. However, he made an impression with Denmark in the Euros, piquing the Hammers’ and others’ interests. Braithwaite has also been linked with a transfer to Wolves. The effective comeback of Raul Jimenez, on the other hand, may cause them to reconsider their position. It remains to be seen whether Barcelona will be able to profit from Braithwaite.
As harsh as it sounds, is Braithwaite worth the wait for West Ham and Wolves? You’d think not based on his basic statistics. He only scored two La Liga goals for Barca last season. It wasn’t quite mind-blowing, and despite a strong Euros performance, he only scored once for Denmark. There will be others who can do a similar job for both the Hammers and Wolves in the end—especially considering the price. If Barcelona and Braithwaite drag this out much further, both teams should walk away from the situation.
So, who would the Hammers turn their attention to if the move for Braithwaite fails to materialise?
Jesse Lingard – Lingard made an impression on loan with West Ham United last season, forcing his way back into England contention; but, the 28-year-old now appears to be back in Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s thoughts. Lingard has returned to Manchester United’s pre-season training and has played in recent warm-up games against QPR and Brentford. Lingard is in United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s plans for the coming season. Lingard’s contract with United expires next summer, and he is valued at around £30 million.
Divock Origi – This summer, Origi is far from Hammers manager David Moyes’ first pick. He’s also not at the top of the West Ham fans’ wish list. However, it’s possible that beggars can’t be choosers. Many of the Hammers’ top targets now appear to be out of reach, so someone like Origi could be a good addition at the London Stadium this summer.
The 26-year-old is a capable offensive player. He can operate anywhere along the front line and has enjoyed some notable moments with Liverpool, including scoring the second goal during their Champions League final win in 2019. Origi isn’t particularly prolific, but he is a diligent worker who is constantly willing to run in behind the opposition’s defence. The Liverpool striker has a genuine burst of speed, and if he were given more playing experience, everyone would start to see the best of him.
Tammy Abraham – Tammy Abraham, the Chelsea outcast, has been a target for West Ham United all summer. Since Thomas Tuchel’s arrival at Chelsea, it has been evident that Abraham does not have a future with the club. Chelsea’s bid for Lukaku heavily influences the availability and price of Abraham. The west Londoners have officially launched their bid for Marcos Alonso, with an offer of £85 million-plus Marcos Alonso being submitted to Inter Milan. Although the proposal is expected to be rejected, there is speculation in Italy that cash-strapped Inter will accept a cash offer of more than £100 million.
Aaron Boupendza – Hatayspor striker Aaron Boupendza can join West Ham for just €8 million (£6.8 million) this summer, according to the club’s president Lutfu Savas. All summer, Hammers boss David Moyes has been looking for a new striker. The Scot, on the other hand, has only Michail Antonio as a senior striker at his disposal at the London Stadium. West Ham, on the other hand, appears to be far from completing a signing.
The Hammers were linked with a deal for the 24-year-old midfielder in March. That is good value for a striker who scored 22 goals in 36 league games last season. Boupendza is an excellent finisher and dribbler, as well as a powerful defender in the air. On the other side, the Gabonese ace isn’t great at holding the ball up or passing it. Regardless of other weaknesses in his game, the fact that the 24-year-old is a natural striker is a huge plus.