Diafra Sakho is one step away from becoming a new West Bromwich Albion player following successful talks between West Ham and the Birmingham-based outfit on Sunday and agreed on the sum of £16 million for Senegal international.
Sakho was close to moving to Sunderland this summer, but the Hammers rejected the £11m bid at the beginning of July, after which Sakho requested a transfer and refused to go with the team on pre-season tour in Austria.
Hamburg and Sevilla were also interested, but Tony Pulis reacted quickly, and it seems that the lucrative offer will be enough to bring in the new striker to the Hawthorns. It could also mean that Saido Berahino’s days at West Brom are over.
Slaven Bilic will not stay on the 26-year-old Sakho’s way, but his certain departure will leave him with only two senior strikers at the club – Andy Carroll and Enner Valencia, so the Croatian manager could use the funds to pursue a new forward. Diafra didn’t feature in West Ham’s defeat at Domzale last week in the Europa League qualifications, and the move away from the Olympic Stadium is now evident.
Sakho joined West Ham in 2014 for a £4 million from Metz and scored ten goals in the Premier League in his first season. However, the injuries and poor form prevented him from becoming a key player in Bilic’s plans, and after only five goals in 21 games, the manager turned to Carroll as a starting centre forward.
The deal is expected next week, and Sakho’s transfer will be West Brom’s record-breaking arrival. WBA already lost Victor Anichebe and Stephane Sessegnon on a free transfer, and Sakho will compete with Salomon Rondon for a starting spot in attack, with Ricky Lambert behind them in the pecking order.