Report: Hammers keep Barca striker on radar

West Ham’s reported target Martin Braithwaite is free to leave Barcelona in January, according to new reports.

The striker spent two seasons in the Championship with Middlesbrough between 2017 and 2019. He signed for them from Toulouse for around £9m, but he only netted nine times in 40 appearances for them.

He then joined Spanish side Leganes permanently ahead of the 2019/20 campaign scoring eight times in 27 appearances for them in the first half of the season.

In a surprise move Barcelona activated his £18m release clause and he officially became a Barcelona player in February 2020.  The striker has only managed to score once for them from 16 outings in all competitions.

Now Spanish website Mundo Deportivo, are reporting that Barcelona plans to let the forward leave in January.

A separate report from Mundo Deportivo revealed that both Everton and West Ham have already shown interest in the Denmark international.  Barcelona want to recoup the £18m they paid for the player less than a year ago.

Like Dembele, Braitwaite has been linked with a move to West Ham for several years so the latest report should come as no surprise.