Ayew is a Hammer for £20m
WEST HAM have agreed a £20million fee with Swansea City for striker Andre Ayew.
The 26-year-old was last night talking personal terms with the Hammers about a four-year deal.
Ayew – born in France but an international with Ghana – joined the Swans on a free transfer from Marseille a year ago.
His arrival will boost the firepower available to manager Slaven Bilic, who is currently reliant on Andy Carroll to lead the West Ham line.
The east Londoners also have Diafra Sakho on their books but he is up for sale after a fall-out with Bilic.
He was due to move to West Brom last week but the £16m move collapsed after he failed a medical and would not be ready for the start of the season.
Without Sakho, Albion will be reluctant to sell Saido Berahino to Stoke or Crystal Palace.
Cheikhou Kouyate has earned himself a place in Hammers history by scoring the first goal at the London Stadium, the club’s new home.
Now, he wants to be part of West Ham’s growing success story – by helping them reach the Champions League for the first time.
The Senegal star – who netted twice against NK Domzale in the Europa League – said: “I am so proud to have scored the first goal. This is a very big memory for me – historic!”
Kouyate is confident of a top-four finish this term and added: “Nothing is impossible in football now. It is possible for us to get to the Champions League. Why not?
“If you play as a team and work hard, you can achieve a lot.”