West Ham are preparing to compete with Wolverhampton Wanderers for Nice forward Evann Guessand but need to secure sales first and that could hasten the exit of Mohammed Kudus.
Wolves are reported to be preparing an offer for Guessand, who scored 13 goals last season for Nice as they finished fourth in the French League behind Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille and Monaco.
The 23-year-old Ivory Coast international figures highly among Graham Potter’s options as he looks to rebuild the team he inherited in midseason.
West Ham considered moving for Guessand in January but Nice were reluctant to sell as they chased a Champions League place.
The Hammers remain interested in a striker with three more years on his contract who is expected to be available for £20-25 million.
Wolves, West Ham’s rivals for Guessand, are set to bank £62.5m from the sale of Matheus Cunha to Manchester United.
Striker Evann Guessand is subject to Premier League interest from both West Ham and Wolves
West Ham wanted the Ivory Coast striker in January but Nice were not keen on making a move
Both Wolves boss Vitor Pereira and West Ham manager Graham Potter are keen on Guessand
They are committed to spending £23m to make Jorgen Strand Larsen’s move permanent from Celta Vigo but still have money to invest as Vitor Pereira looks to reshape his squad.
West Ham boss Potter will have to be creative to perform the surgery necessary to revive a squad that laboured to 43 points in the Premier League last season.
His priority is to revive the front line with Michail Antonio, who made his return from injuries sustained in a car accident in December with Jamaica at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, is out of contract.
The Hammers are also prepared to consider offers for Kudus and Niclas Fullkrug.