According to a recent report by the Mirror, West Ham United are interested in securing the services of Emiliano Sala from Nantes. The Daily Mirror claims that the Hammers are set to battle it out with Fulham and Crystal Palace in pursuit of the Ligue 1 attacker, who is valued in the region of £15m by the French club.
The 28-year-old is currently the third-best goal-getter in the French first division with 11 goals to his name in 14 league matches. He has put in some majestic displays for the Ligue 1 outfit during this campaign which has not gone unnoticed by the Hammers chiefs.
Sala grew up playing football for FC Girondins Bordeaux before having loan spells with US Orleans, FC Niort and SM Cain. The Argentine forward finally made a permanent switch to Nantes in the summer of 2015. Since then, Sala has gone on to become one of the most prolific forwards in the Ligue 1.
The Cululu las Colonias born talent had featured in a total of 127 matches for Nantes, scoring 47 goals while providing 12 assists.
What Does Sala Offer On The Pitch?
Sala is an old-school centre-forward who uses his physicality quite effectively to get the better of his marker. He utilises his strength well to hold the ball up top. The striker is also a dominant figure in the air at both ends of the pitch.
The Argentine frontman is an experienced finisher inside the opposition penalty area, but he needs to improve his passing game if he wants to prove his worth in the Premier League.
Will He Be The Right Choice For The Hammers?
The potential acquisition of Sala will undoubtedly bolster Pellegrini’s attacking options at the London Stadium. With Marko Arnautovic currently out injured, the likes of Javier Hernandez, Lucas Perez, Andy Carroll and Michail Antonio might take up the responsibility of leading the line up top. However, Sala’s arrival would be an upgrade over any of them as he has been a consistent goal-scorer for Nantes this season.
Sala could turn out to be a shrewd signing for Pellegrini as the former Manchester City manager looks to bring some success to East London in the coming years. The Argentine striker might be a massive gamble as he has no experience of playing football outside of France, but he might be a risk worth taking for the Hammers.
