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West Ham continue to keep tabs on Clermont striker Mohamed Bayo, but may have to wait until next summer to complete a transfer, it has been claimed.

Bayo was one of many strikers linked with West Ham over the summer. They never signed a replacement for Sebastien Haller in January and are still yet to do so after the closure of the summer transfer window. Fortunately, Michail Antonio has started the season in strong form, but they need a viable alternative to him at some point.

Therefore, it is an area they will be looking to address in a future transfer window. Bayo will seemingly be one of the main names on the agenda.

A report in August said West Ham had made contact with his current club Clermont after his 22 goals in 38 games fired them to promotion to Ligue 1. However, no transfer materialised.

Bayo was also the subject of interest from Bordeaux over the summer, but there was a disparity between their £7m offer and Clermont’s £10m asking price.

According to The Sun, he is now growing somewhat unsettled as a result of Clermont’s failure to let him leave. As a result, there could be an opportunity for West Ham to swoop in 2022.

The Hammers will be keeping tabs on how the 23-year-old fares in his first taste of the French top flight. He has made a bright start with three goals from six games, so will be hoping to maintain that form. If he does, then it may persuade West Ham to make their move.

However, the report adds that a deal would only be likely in the summer. Although born in France, Bayo plays for the Guinea national team and will be involved in the African Cup of Nations this winter. As a result, a January transfer would be unlikely.

But with a contract until 2023, next summer may be the optimum time for him to secure a transfer. It seems West Ham will be waiting in the wings, although there could of course be interest from other suitors.

West Ham in mix for Arsenal striker

An alternative with more experience would be Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal, whom 90min recently mentioned as an option for West Ham.

The Frenchman, 30, is in the year of his contract at the Emirates. The once-club record signing has never hit the heights Arsenal fans hoped for, though he remains a steady source of goals when featuring regularly.

But per 90min, it is looking increasingly unlikely a contract renewal will be offered. They claim ‘talks’ between Arsenal and Lacazette’s team have ‘taken place’. However, neither the club or player seem ‘keen’ to strike a deal.

An overseas exit could materialise. Indeed, Lacazette will be free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs come January. A return to Lyon is theorised, while Atletico Madrid were revealed to be in the frame earlier this month.

But it is a move to West Ham that is the most intriguing. The Hammers are clearly in need of reliable back-up to Antonio. And unlike Arsenal, West Ham have European football to offer.

Another feather in the potential deal’s cap comes from the player’s personal stance. He is described as being ‘open’ to remaining in the capital. Additionally, selling to West Ham in January would recoup a fee rather than losing him abroad for nothing next summer.

READ MORE: West Ham menace tipped to rouse Liverpool into January transfer bid

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