Forget Adama Traore: West Ham should sign one of these four wingers instead

West Ham have been heavily linked with a move for Adama Traore in recent times with reports suggesting that the potential move is at various stages.

The Northern Echo, for example, believe that the deal could be finalised as soon as this week.

All reports seem to suggest that the Hammers won’t land Traore for anything less than £8m.

For that price, I personally think that Adama Traore would be a catastrophic signing.

Plenty of West Ham fans are getting excited about him, presumably as a result of his impressive performance against us last season.

However, similarly to the game against West Ham, Adama Traore failed to provide any quality with his final ball all season.

The 21-year-old managed no goals and just the one assist all season – a similar tally to what he achieved at Aston Villa the year before.

There is a reason Barcelona got rid; there is a reason Aston Villa traded him for Albert Adomah; there is a reason that Boro are not too reluctant to let him go.

If we do want a winger this summer, we should instead consider one of these four suggestions rather than pursuing a deal for Traore…

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Jota

If we are looking to snap up a Championship winger for £8m, we might as well grab one with better end product.

Jota only returned to Brentford (from a loan spell in La Liga) in January but managed to rack up a remarkable tally of twelve goals and five assists in 21 Championship games.

West Ham have been linked with the exciting Spaniard, who likes to play on the right wing and cut in on his favoured left foot.

The 26-year-old is certainly ready to step up to the Premier League and he provides more of a cutting edge than Traore at this moment in time.

Henry Onyekuru

I cannot fathom why some West Ham fans want £8m Traore over £8m Henry Onyekuru.

Traore has plenty of pace but no end product; Onyekuru has both.

The Nigerian international netted 25 goals in the top division of Belgian football last season despite playing for a lower-mid-table team.

The 20-year-old is still young and one of the hottest talents in Europe; the step up to the Premier League will be considerable but the winger-come-striker can surely develop his game at West Ham.

Put simply, he is younger and better than Adama Traore.

Anthony Knockaert

Anthony Knockaert was the Championship Player of the Year last season and is a serious talent.

While Brighton will be reluctant to let their French wing wizard go, they might be tempted by a part-exchange with Robert Snodgrass.

Knockaert is another left-footed right winger who likes to cut in and he offers goals and assists in abundance.

The 25-year-old grabbed 15 goals and 8 assists in the Championship last season and he is surely ready for Premier League football.

Andriy Yarmolenko

With Michail Antonio and Manuel Lanzini occupying two of the three attacking midfield slots, a marquee signing could really add that cutting edge to our forward play.

Andriy Yarmolenko could be that signing.

The 27-year-old is a towering winger who offers pace, power, skill and goals.

Currently playing for Dynamo Kyiv, surely it is time that the Ukrainian international winger (with 29 goals in 63 caps for his country) moved to a top division like the Premier League.