Leeds, West Ham eyeing Barcelona raid for familiar attacking face

Braithwaite.Barcelona.TEAMtalk

West Ham and Leeds are weighing up the option to bring a familiar Barcelona face back to England, according to a report.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side hit the ground running in their first season back in the top flight since 2004.

Early positive results have been tempered with heavy back-to-back defeats, however, with questions being asked over whether the depth of Bielsa’s squad is sufficient enough to last a full Premier League campaign.

Patrick Bamford has surpassed all expectations in front of goal so far. But genuine quality in reserve is relatively light should the Englishman suffer a dip in form, despite the impending return of an exciting forward.

West Ham, meanwhile, were rocked by the news of Michail Antonio’s hamstring injury last month.

The converted centre-forward is already well down the road to recovery. But in a similar vein to Leeds, genuine quality depth pieces at no. 9 are distinctly lacking.

Now, according to online publication Sport Witness, both clubs have entered the mix for Barcelona striker Martin Braithwaite.

Braithwaite , 29, is familiar to English audiences from his time with Middlesbrough, and provided a surprise when arriving at the La Liga giants earlier in 2020.

The outlet cite Spanish newspaper Sport, and state that Leeds have opened discussion over the player’s availability.

Braithwaite is reportedly deemed surplus to requirements by Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman. A fee of around £15m is described as being required to greenlight a deal.

 

West Ham ‘negotiating’ Braithwaite transfer

Leeds’ interest is reportedly set to be rivalled by The Hammers.

Again citing Sport, Sport Witness reveal West Ham ‘asked about his situation’, but are yet to place a bid for the veteran.

David Moyes’ side were linked with a summer move for the Danish international, though no deal ultimately materialised.

Braithwaite is described as being ‘happy’ at the Camp Nou. Though his entourage are said to be acutely aware his Barcelona stay won’t last forever.

READ MORE: West Ham contact Madrid to make ambitious double move for striker duo