Newman given green light for “wonderful” £7m West Ham target, it'd be a "key" signing - opinion

West Ham United have been given a boost in their hopes of signing Bordeaux striker Hwang Ui-jo, with the South Korea international set to depart the French outfit this summer.

The 29-year-old recently revealed that he had received an offer from the Hammers regarding a move away from his current side, albeit with Nantes also believed to be firmly in the running for his signature.

All interested parties have now been given the green light to move for the attacking menace after Bordeaux boss David Guion revealed that the forward is “likely to leave” the club in the current window, as per Girondins4Ever, amid the financial difficulties surrounding the Ligue 2 side.

Previous reports have suggested that the 6 foot 1 marksman – who has just a year remaining on his existing deal – could be available for a fee of around €8m (£7m).

Dubbed the “key to the success” of his national team by commentator Han Joon-hee following their Asian Games triumph in 2018, Hwang could well also become a key figure for the London Stadium outfit, were he to be snapped up in the coming weeks.

The “wonderful” talent – as described by one source – has been in sparkling form in recent seasons despite Les Girondins’ decline of late, notably netting 11 goals and providing two assists in 32 games in the French top-flight last season amid his side’s subsequent relegation.

The £6.3m-rated man had scored 12 league goals the year prior in what was just his second campaign in European football, as he began to showcase the impressive goalscoring form that he had produced so regularly in Japan.

At former club Gamba Osaka – whom he left in 2019 – the £25k-per-week hotshot netted 30 goals and provided seven assists in just 70 appearances in all competitions, having