According to reports in The Mirror, West Ham United are ready to make a £15m for Burnley striker Andre Gray this summer, and they would have to pay him £70,000-a-week.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the Daily Mail reported last week that the Clarets’ contract talks with Gray had stalled over his £70,000-a-week wage demands, and the Irons could make their move with the player having just one year left to run on his current deal, according to The Mirror.
The report adds that that the Lancashire outfit are resigned to losing Gray in the coming weeks, and he could follow Everton target Michael Keane out of the door at Turf Moor.
Hammers boss Slaven Bilic is keen to sign at least two new strikers before the start of next season because of continued fitness worries over Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho.
How did Gray do last season?
Considering it was his first season of Premier League football, he did very well.
Despite being prolific in the Championship with Brentford and the Clarets, it is never guaranteed that a striker will successfully make the step up to the top flight, but Gray’s nine goals in 32 league appearances show that he can make an impact at this level.
Would he be a good signing for West Ham?
He certainly would be, yes.
With some of the price tags being bandied about already this summer, £15m for Gray could be seen as something of a bargain considering he is 26 years of age and has shown that he can get goals in the Premier League.
If Bilic is looking for a player that has experience of playing in the top flight rather than a risky addition like Simone Zaza and Jonathan Calleri were last summer, then he could certainly do a lot worse than go all out for the Burnley man.
What’s the verdict, then?
Well, if Burnley and Gray are unable to agree on terms on a new deal then they are likely to cash in on him this summer rather than risk losing him for nothing in the future.
The 26-year-old has certainly shown he can find the net in the Premier League and he could be a more realistic target for the Irons at £15m compared to some of the names they have already been linked during the window.
