West Ham Opinion: Should the Hammers go for Gaetan Laborde?
According to a report from the Sun, West Ham are planning a massive striker exodus to rebuild for next season. The Hammers want to sell Marko Arnautovic, Javier Hernandez and Lucas Perez, along with midfielder Pedro Obiang.
Marko Arnautovic was on the verge of leaving West Ham for China in January but the saga ended with the Austrian putting pen to paper on a new deal.
Even though he has signed a new deal, West Ham
Hernandez and Perez have also been disappointments this season, with the pair managing just seven goals between them in 30 league games. Andy Carroll, meanwhile, is out of contract in the summer and an extension has not yet been signed.
This makes the signing of a new striker very important and Manuel Pellegrini should make a move for Montpellier star Gaetan Laborde.
A product of Bordeaux’s youth system, Gaetan Laborde joined Montpellier last summer. He has hit the ground running in his debut season at Montpellier, contributing with 10 goals and two assists in 24 league games.
A centre-forward by trade, Laborde can also play on the right wing and deliver the goods. He is a strong, physical player who can play with the back facing the goal, hold up the ball and bring his teammates into the game.
The Frenchman possesses decent pace but it is his ability to time his jump to perfection and movement in the box that keeps the defenders on their toes. Laborde is lethal inside the box and he has a knack of being at the right place and at the right time to convert the chances.
A good reader of the game, the former Bordeaux man has a sledgehammer of a left foot and can terrorise defences with his clever off-the-ball movement. His time at Bordeaux proved to be more than useful with the 24-year-old improving his finishing skills and honing his attacking instincts.
Conclusion
Laborde is only 24 years old but he has already made a telling impact in the Ligue 1 in his debut season at Montpellier.
Read more West Ham news, click here – West Ham latest news
He is a natural goalscorer who will improve with age and as things stand, West Ham should not hesitate to table a bid to land the burly Frenchman in the summer.