Whether West Ham United’s alleged interest in Middlesboro striker Emmanuel Latte Lath is true or false, it is evident that the Championship frontman is in high demand. He has previously been linked with both Leicester and the Hammers. Clearly, the Irons need a frontman in the January window, but Latte Lath will need to get his skates on.
According to Sky Sports, Latte Lath has received an official bid, but not from the Premier League: Atalanta United, of the US Major League Soccer (MLS), has made a confirmed £18 million bid.
However, as things stand, the bid is unlikely to appeal to Middlesboro as they try to maintain their promotion push, or to the player who will have Premier League ambitions for both his career and his cash account.
Whether West Ham or anyone else is willing to match the rumoured £25 million asking price that was discussed in December will depend on how desperate clubs are to take a chance on the Ivorian.
Leicester did try their luck at £20 million in the summer (footballleagueworld.co.uk), who declared in December that “the Ivorian is too good for the Championship, he’s proven that”. So it remains to be seen whether a settlement can be reached this January.
West Ham are clearly desperate, but are there better options for £25 million? I can’t see many right now. Perhaps a loan with a buy option of £25 million, although it is unlikely to float Middlesboro’s boats.
As Graham Potter acknowledged in his own news conference ahead of the Fulham game, when discussing the Striker issue only this afternoon: “There’s certainly a logical rationale to do something” – which I guess means ‘watch this space’ in other words.
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