West Ham contact agents over signing ‘skilful’ forward; club now ready to sell by deadline day

As per French news outlet RMC Sport, there has been an update on West Ham United’s hunt for a new striker involving Senegal forward Bamba Dieng.

Irons boss David Moyes has earmarked the signing of a new striker as one of his transfer priorities over the last month, but they have had no luck getting a player through the door so far in January.

Bids have been lodged, with Flamengo star Gabriel Barbosa once the subject of intense West Ham interest as they made an 18-month loan offer for him at the beginning of January (Sky Sports).

They have also been linked with Adam Hlozek of Sparta Prague recently but, with just a few days left of the transfer window, they’re fast running out of time to make a decision.

According to RMC Sport, West Ham have now made an inquiry to sign Marseille’s Dieng and are one of the English clubs to return to the charge alongside Crystal Palace, Newcastle and Burnley.

It is believed that the Hammers and their Premier League rivals have informed the 21-year-old’s entourage of their interest in signing the attacker, and while no concrete offer has been made just yet, this could change in the ‘coming days’.

Marseille are ‘ready to sell’ their starlet by ‘the end of the winter transfer window’ and it will cost GSB €10m (£8.3m) to reach an agreement for him.

Still an unknown quantity despite receiving some worthy plaudits from legends of the game, a move for Dieng could be a gamble.

While Chelsea icon Didier Drogba has hailed the 21-year-old as a ‘skilful’ player, the Senegal ace has still only netted four goals and supplied one assist in 14 French top-flight starts at club level this season.

This isn’t exactly a prolific record, and while there may be bags of potential on offer for just £8.3m, Moyes and