West Ham may have to pay up to €40m for the 'second-best scorer' in Portugal

05/16/2024 12:09 PM

West Ham United may need to fork out €40 million if they want to complete the signing of SC Braga striker Simon Banza this summer.

With Michail Antonio set to cut ties with the Hammers at the end of the season, signing a striker is firmly at the top of Tim Steidten’s to-do list this summer.

We’ve not had the best luck when it comes to signing strikers in recent years, so it goes without saying that we must get it right with Antonio’s successor.

Several names have been linked with a move to London Stadium, but the club have concrete interest in Banza after a phenomenal campaign in the Portuguese top flight.

However, the DR Congo international will not come cheap this summer amid reports claiming we must stump up €40m to convince Braga to sell.

Banza would be an upgrade on Antonio, but his price could be a sticking point

According to Portuguese news outlet O Jogo, Banza is highly sought after, with AS Roma, VfB Stuttgart, and ACF Fiorentina sounding out their interest in the striker.

However, West Ham are also in the mix, and we should be able to dispatch the lot of them if it comes down to a bidding war for the former RC Lens striker.

Having bagged 21 goals in 27 league games, Banza is the second-highest goalscorer in the Portuguese top flight this season.

His tally is only bettered by Sporting CP marksman Viktor Gyokeres, who notched 27 goals in 32 league games, firing Ruben Amorim’s side to the Primera Liga title.

Banza would be a significant upgrade on Antonio. His blistering pace and incredible strength could be a problem for Premier League defenders.

Braga’s asking price could be a sticking point, especially for a striker who has no Premier League experience. But Banza has all the attributes he needs to succeed at London Stadium.

The 27-year-old could be a decent acquisition for us, but we must negotiate a lower price for the striker.

Stats from Sofascore.com