Sunderland make move for West Ham striker Diafra Sakho
Senegalese international set to be reunited with his former Hammers boss Sam Allardyce at the Stadium of Light
SUNDERLAND boss Sam Allardyce is keen to be reunited with Diafra Sakho.
The Black Cats are understood to have offered £11m for the West Ham striker, who has told the Hammers he wants to leave in search of regular football.
And that could lead the 26-year-old Senegalese international to the Stadium of Light and a manager keen to sign him again.
Allardyce signed Sakho for the Hammers from Metz for £3.5million two years ago and he started life well in the East End.
He scored 12 times in 26 appearances appearances in what was Big Sam’s final season in charge.
But last season was plagued with injury, and he found the back of the net just seven times in 24 games in what was Slaven Bilic’s first campaign as boss.
And with West Ham working on bringing in another striker this summer, Sakho is facing the prospect of another season with limited opportunities, something that won’t be the case on Wearside.
Jermain Defoe is the only orthodox frontman currently on the books at Sunderland and that would ensure Sakho would challenge for the top spot up front.
However, while Sunderland are making the intial running to get Sakho, West Brom are also interested after Victor Anichebe was let go.
That leaves Baggies boss Tony Pulis, who tried to get Sakho on loan in January, with only Salomon Rondon and Everton target Saido Berahino.