West Ham United are believed to be monitoring Stade Rennais forward, Martin Terrier, according to reports.
What’s the word?
As per club insider ExWHUemployee, the 25-year-old is believed to be a potential target for the Hammers this summer, amid reports that the east Londoners – as well as Leeds United – are tracking the Frenchman ahead of a potential deal.
Asked on Twitter about a possible move for the former Lyon man, the respected source stated: “Well I know he has been a target before as this article says from our podcast.”
The article in question – which comes from This is Futbol – includes quotes made by the transfer insider earlier this summer on the West Ham Way podcast, in which he stated:
“There’s a guy called Martin Terrier of Rennes who can play on the left wing as well, all of those forwards in France would have been looked at because I know we value that league for bargains.
“And the club, Moyes, the scouts, the recruitment, the chairman all feel that the French league is possibly the one that’s got the biggest track record of players being able to convert to the English League most easily. So I think we’ll be looking at players there.”
Massive coup
A deal for the £22.5m-rated gem could no doubt prove a major coup for David Moyes and co, with Terrier having been in prolific form last season in Ligue 1, netting 21 league goals and providing three assists in 37 league outings – all of which came from the start.
That goalscoring record saw him finish joint-third alongside compatriot Moussa Dembele in the goalscoring charts in the French top-flight, with their respective hauls having only been bettered by Monaco’s Wissam Ben Yedder (25) and Paris Saint-Germain sensation, Kylian Mbappe (28).
That position among the most deadly players in the league is even more impressive considering that the 6-foot menace isn’t even an out-and-out centre-forward, having largely featured in a left-wing berth during his time with Rennes.
His overall record at his current club now stands at 30 goals in just 71 appearances thus far over the past two seasons, with the £19k-per-week man set to add undoubted competition to the current forward options at Moyes’s disposal at the London Stadium outfit.
Not just a threat with the ball at his feet, the one-time Lille marksman is also devastating in the air, notably ranking in the top 7% for aerial duels won among those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues.
With Chelsea’s Armando Broja potentially also set to come through the door, the former Everton boss could well be able to form a new look frontline next term, with such clinical new arrivals set to ease the attacking burden on the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio.
Equally, with Terrier in particular, managing to poach a player who is clearly heading into his prime would represent a massive coup for the Irons, with the hope being that his former teammate Nayef Aguerd can tempt him into making the move to England.
AND in other news, Contact made: Moyes can unearth a new sensation as West Ham move for “complete” £39m target