West Ham United and Norwich City are reportedly among the clubs interested in signing Martin Braithwaite from Barcelona in the summer.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Martin Braithwaite could return to England in the summer transfer window. Barcelona will aim to get the Danish international off their books, with West Ham United among the Premier League clubs keen on signing him.
Martin Braithwaite joined Barcelona from CD Leganes in February 2020 as an emergency signing amid an injury crisis at Camp Nou. And in the last two years, the 30-year-old has been a backup striker for the Blaugrana, primarily making starts when several first-team regulars have been on the sidelines.
Braithwaite has made 56 appearances for Barcelona, registering ten goals and five assists in the process. The Danish international’s time at Barcelona could be drawing to a close, though, with the Blaugrana set to undergo a squad overhaul in the summer transfer window. And the experienced forward’s next destination could be West Ham United.
In the summer, West Ham had been heavily linked with Braithwaite, but a move failed to materialise. The continued interest in the Barcelona forward could be stemming from the east London giants’ inability to secure the services of a striker.
The Hammers desperately need to sign a striker as Michail Antonio is the only reliable goalscorer at David Moyes’s disposal. Following Sebastien Haller’s move to Ajax last year, there is no other natural striker on West Ham’s books, with Antonio himself a converted centre-forward.
As a result, the Londoners have been heavily linked with several strikers in recent months, including Gabriel Barbosa, with Braithwaite also a viable target. According to the report, the 30-year-old’s stint with Barcelona will likely end in the summer, with the Blaugrana looking to recoup the €18 million they spent to sign him two years ago.
In addition to West Ham, Norwich City and two other unnamed Premier League clubs are also interested in Braithwaite. But with the Canaries embroiled in a battle to stave off relegation, West Ham’s chances of signing him from Barcelona appear high. It will also be interesting to have the identities of the other two Premier League suitors revealed in due course.