West Ham United are reportedly keen to secure the signature of Lille winger Jonathan Bamba in the summer transfer window.
The Hammers had tried signing the Frenchman last summer after failing to land Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard after his fine six-month loan spell. A move didn’t come to fruition for the speedy wide-man and he ended up staying with the Ligue 1 champions.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, West Ham could look to renew their interest in Lille’s Jonathan Bamba, despite the winger being goalless so far this season. However, the east London club could face a battle for the £16.5millon-rated former youth French international from clubs in Spain, Germany and Italy, the report adds.
Bamba, 25, joined Lille from Saint-Etienne in the summer of 2018 and has gone onto make 152 appearances, registering 22 goals and 27 assists in the process. With six goals and 11 assists in 38 appearances last season, he played a key role in Lille’s famous Ligue 1 triumph under then-boss Christophe Galtier.
Despite failing to find the back of the net this term, the French winger’s stock hasn’t nosedived with clubs across Europe vying for his signature.
Jonathan Bamba to West Ham—Right fit for the Hammers?
Predominantly a left-winger, Jonathan Bamba is adept at playing anywhere across the front-line and producing the goods for his team. Over the last couple of seasons with Lille, he has starred on the left flank, cutting in on his right foot and testing the goalkeeper from long range while creating chances for his teammates in the final third.
The 25-year-old likes to use his pace, agility and dribbling skills to make runs with the ball out in the wide areas. Due to his burst of acceleration and unpredictable movement, he is a constant threat to the opposition in and around the box. Bamba also is a tireless worker off the ball and can offer decent defensive cover for the full-back.
In terms of suiting David Moyes’ style at West Ham, the Lille star would be a perfect fit. Energetic, industrious and creative with an eye for goal, Jonathan Bamba would be a great outlet to have for the Hammers during transitions of play. More importantly, he would add competition for Manuel Lanzini and Said Benrahma whilst improving West Ham’s depth in the attack.
Even though Bamba hasn’t been as effective as last season, he is a proven Ligue 1 commodity who has the qualities to make a difference at the London Stadium. West Ham certainly are not short of funds and must splash it all out on the Lille winger to bolster their squad in the summer.