West Ham United are set for a busy summer as the club’s hierarchy and their new manager prepare to bolster their ranks.
With David Moyes departing the Hammers and Julen Lopetegui set to come in, a new era is about to begin at the London Stadium.
One squad area West Ham could do with strengthen is in attack, as they’re currently short on numbers.
The Hammers may well look to bring in a long-term replacement for Michail Antonio, who turned 34 in March.
In recent days, West Ham have been linked with a player who has been deemed ‘one of the most difficult strikers to defend’ against in his league.
The player in question is Braga’s Simon Banza, who has registered an impressive 23 goals and five assists in all competitions this term.
Calciomercato recently claimed that the Hammers were in pursuit of the 6ft 2in powerhouse.
Now, a report from Portugal has outlined how much the likes of West Ham could have to pay for Banza.
O Jogo (print edition, 15/5/2024) have claimed that the Democratic Republic of Congo international has a £34million price tag.
Who is West Ham United target Simon Banza?
Simon Banza began his football journey at hometown club Creil before linking up with Chantilly’s youth team.
He then joined the Lens setup and rose through the ranks, taking in a number of loan spells along the way before breaking into the first team.
Banza made 99 competitive appearances for Lens, registering 18 goals and nine assists, before joining Braga in 2022 for a reported £2million fee.
The 27-year-old’s career has gone from strength to strength in Portugal, and surely it won’t be long before a big move beckons.
Scouting outlet Breaking the Lines wrote in 2022: ‘Banza is one of the most difficult strikers to defend in Portugal due to his tall frame, movement, and strength – he always looks to target opposition defenders and wreak havoc – and despite his 6ft2 frame, he is surprisingly mobile in his style of play, acting often as a brilliant facilitator.’
There were also links between Banza and Manchester United ahead of the January transfer window.
All in all, Banza looks like a good shout for West Ham. He ticks all the boxes required to play in the Premier League and he’s very much in his prime.
