OPINION
FC Nantes have reportedly decided that January is the right time to cash in on Argentinean striker Emiliano Sala, and West Ham should go all out to lure the goal machine to the London Stadium.
According to French outlet 20 Minutes, the Ligue 1 side are willing to part with the 28-year-old before his contract runs down and while his stock is so high, and West Ham are said to be interested. Sala has 18 months left on his contract.
So far this season he has been irrepressible, matching even Neymar in the goalscoring charts with 11 goals in the league, and 12 from 15 in all competitions. Only Kylian Mbappe has scored more.
According to the Daily Mail, Nantes value the ex-Bordeaux man at around £25 million, and that looks like a steal in the current climate of inflated transfer fees.
While Marko Arnautovic and Felipe Anderson have been in fine form of late, the Hammers could use an out-and-out striker to help propel them up the Premier League table, and Sala fits the bill nicely.
Javier Hernandez did hit two in his last outing against Newcastle, but reports from El Gol suggest that the Mexican wants out of the London Stadium as quickly as possible, and that could leave the Irons shorthanded in attack.
Even if Hernandez is persuaded to stay, the opportunity to bring in a layer of Sala’s quality for a mid-season boost is one that should not be passed up.