West Ham have reportedly identified RB Salzburg’s Karim Konaté as a key target for the upcoming summer transfer window, according to club insider ExWHUEmployee.
The 21-year-old Ivorian forward has been making waves in the Austrian Bundesliga, scoring 24 goals in 47 appearances for Salzburg. Despite his young age, Konaté has also earned 19 caps for Ivory Coast, netting twice at international level.
With Graham Potter gearing up for a mass overhaul of the squad, Konaté is as a player who could bring pace, movement, and finishing quality to a frontline in need of a shake-up. The striker is known for lightning acceleration, and ability to play both centrally and from the left wing.
Konaté’s dribbling and slick finishing make him a versatile attacking threat, and his goal-scoring record at Salzburg suggests he has the clinical edge West Ham have been missing this season. That said, he has not featured regularly this season which is why the Irons could stand a chance of signing the forward.
Liverpool were heavily linked with the young striker last summer, but Konaté opted to sign a new contract with Salzburg, extending his stay until 2028. However, with Potter and Head of Recruitment Kyle Macaulay determined to lower the Hammers’ squad age, this is a rumour which could have some legs.
Hi gonzo, if the recruitment sees us lowering the age of the squad, add much needed pace and drive (especially in midfield) and bring in players good enough for the premier league then they will have done a truly remarkable job. With the news that they turned down Wissa due to him being deemed to old I think they’ve set a high bar for themselves, imagine they spend much of the summer chasing younger dynamic players only to fail and end up having to bring in a player in their 30s! There are 2 players I fear we could bring in out of sheer desperation, let’s see. Cheers