According to Ghana Soccernet, West Ham United could be set to receive a £30m offer from Marseille for forward Andre Ayew this summer.
The Irons only signed the attacker in a club-record £20m deal from Premier League rivals Swansea City last summer, but now he is understood to be on a list of potential targets for the French giants who are looking to compete again following a takeover by billionaire Franck McCourt.
The news comes just a few months after the Hammers were forced to sell Dimitri Payet to Marseille following his fallout with the club after he told them he wanted to go back to France.
While Slaven Bilic will be keen to strengthen his attack rather than lose players this summer, if Ayew was allowed to leave he would return to the Stade Velodrome just two years after joining the Swans on a free transfer.
Here are three reasons West Ham should cash in on Ayew…
He has struggled to make an impact
Big things would have been expected of the Ghanaian forward following his club-record move to the London Stadium after some impressive performances for Swansea City previously, but things didn’t get off to a good start when he was substituted off on his Premier League debut for the Irons with a thigh injury.
The 27-year-old missed 11 matches as a result – followed by a further five at the start of 2017 due to him being away at the African Cup of Nations – and he has struggled to make much of an impact since his return in what has been a disappointing campaign for the club.
Ayew ended the season with six goals in 25 top flight appearances which is certainly not the stats of a £30m – or even £20m – player.
They would be making a nice profit
Considering it has been a difficult season for the player because of injuries and a lack of form, the chance for the club to make a £10m profit on Ayew could be one that is too good to turn down.
The Irons have often relied on loans in the transfer market in recent times and Slaven Bilic’s summer transfer budget could certainly be given a much-needed boost if the club received £30m for a player that has struggled to hit the ground running.
The funds could be used elsewhere
West Ham are reportedly interested in signing both Michy Batshuayi from Chelsea and Kelechi Iheanacho from Manchester City this summer, and selling Ayew for £30m would certainly help them in their quest to get the duo.
Iheanacho is said to be available for around £20m and the Irons could put the remaining funds towards either a permanent or loan deal for Batshuayi.
There is no doubt that the Irons frontline would be stronger if Ayew leaves and those two move to the London Stadium, and Slaven Bilic could decide that is the case too.
Do you agree, Irons fans? Let us know below.
