According to Tuttomercatoweb, West Ham United have been given the opportunity to sign Florian Thauvin. The Marseille attacker has emerged as an alternative for the Hammers’ top target Maxi Gomez this summer. And the French outfit will be willing to let go of their prized asset if the Londoners table a €40 million bid as well as offer Javier Hernandez. But is the Frenchman really worth the outlay for Manuel Pellegrini?
Thauvin’s success in Ligue 1
Thauvin is regarded as one of Ligue 1’s top wingers, mostly because of the way he performed after returning from a horrid spell at Newcastle United. Indeed, the ex-LOSC Lille attacker initially moved to Tyneside back in 2015 for a hefty fee of €18 million.
However, the Frenchman featured in just 13 league matches in his debut campaign in the Premier League, during which he failed to score a single goal. He was sent out on loan to his former club Marseille in January 2016, and since then, he has become a vital part of the Phocean attack.
In fact, Thauvin has netted at least 15 league goals in each of his last three full seasons in Ligue 1, and that is quite an astonishing goalscoring tally for a winger.
What can Thauvin bring to the table?
Thauvin is generally identified as a right-winger, who is blessed with electric pace and has exquisite control over the ball. He loves to take on defenders as well as make darting runs into the heart of the opposition defence. However, what makes him such a sought-after attacker in France is his ability to find the back of the net consistency, as his scoring tally would suggest.
Should West Ham United make a move for Thauvin?
Thauvin is undoubtedly a quality attacker who can enhance West Ham’s chance creation as well as productivity in the final third. But, following the departure of Marko Arnautovic, the Hammers are more in need of an out and out attacker rather than a winger, regardless of his scoring prowess.
Besides offering €40 million along with Hernandez seems a little too expensive for a player who is yet to crack the first-team of the French national side. Hence, Pellegrini should remain patient in the market and wait for the right opportunity to sign a quality attacker.
Sebastien Haller, for one, could be a decent target as the Hammers look to kickstart a new era under the Chilean mastermind next season.
