Bargain: GSB gifted chance to sign 'wonderful' 103-goal Suarez-esque striker for West Ham

West Ham are one of the clubs on the trail of Bordeaux striker Hwang Ui-jo, according to Calciomercato. 

Bordeaux finished bottom of Ligue 1 last season and consequently suffered relegation to the second tier. They have since been sent down another division to National 1, due to breaches of financial regulations.

Hwang made 29 league starts over the course of the campaign, with three further appearances as a substitute.

He spent much of his career in his native South Korea and Japan before moving to France in 2019.

Valued at £6.3million by Transfermarkt, the 29-year-old only has 12 months left to run on his Bordeaux contract, where there is likely to be a fire sale after their double demotion.

The Italian outlet reports that ‘a sudden opportunity’ has presented itself ‘on the market’.

Bordeaux are expected to sell Hwang this summer for a knock-down price, alerting a number of teams.

In terms of domestic suitors, Nantes have submitted an offer, while Marseille are back on the case after a failed pursuit in 2021. West Ham, along with newly-promoted Schalke, have also ‘taken information’.

It will come down to the player’s preferences, with the forward ‘free to choose his next club’.

Hwang’s haul of 11 goals was fairly strong when you consider how much Bordeaux struggled. He was clinical too, comfortably out-performing his expected goal tally of 7.8 (via FBRef).

Overall, Hwang has netted 103 goals in 330 club matches and added 15 in his 45 South Korea caps.

In terms of playing style, he’s similar to Newcastle United’s Callum Wilson and former Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Liverpool star Luis Suarez.

Hwang, dubbed ‘brave’ and ‘a wonderful player to coach’ by former manager Jean-Louis Gasset, could be a solid, low-cost option