Montpellier's French forward Gaetan Laborde (C) shoots to score a goal during the French Ligue 1 football match between Montpellier and Brest on December 21, 2019, at the Mosson stadium in Montpellier, south of France.
West Ham are leading the race to sign Montpellier striker Gaetan Laborde, according to a report by reliable French outlet L’Equipe.
The Hammers will be looking to bring in an additional striker to add to the current options of Michail Antonio and Sebastien Haller. There is no denying the qualities of Antonio, but injuries have hampered his season to this point.
Haller has not been impressive since arriving at the club in the summer of 2019, and his form has already led to reports that he could be close to leaving the Hammers. The Ivory Coast international scored just seven goals in 35 appearances last season.
Laborde has been an ever-present in Ligue 1 this season for his club, and has been directly involved in eight goals. The French club may be forced to sell the 26-year-old in January, as they are struggling to cope with the financial impact that has been created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
While Laborde may not be prolific, he is praised for his work-rate. He has the ability to drift in from wide positions and create opportunities for team-mates.
The Montpellier forward may not be the best option for the Hammers, as they would be best suited to finding a striker that has a proven record. However, they will need to move quickly if they want to sign the Ligue 1 star, as Newcastle United are also interested.
