West Ham could find perfect Michail Antonio strike partner with new ‘£12.8m approach’

In pictures: West Ham edge Newcastle in thriller

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West Ham have started the new Premier League season in sensational style and stormed to the top of the table on Monday night. The Hammers opened their campaign with a thumping 4-2 victory at Newcastle United before backing that up with a 4-1 humbling of Leicester City.

Michail Antonio has been in fine form for the side, racking up an impressive three goals and two assists during those victories.

The powerhouse forward looks to be in the form of his life and his two strikes on Monday saw him become West Ham’s record goalscorer in the Premier League era.

The 31-year-old moved on to 49 Premier League goals – two clear of previous top scorer Paolo Di Canio.

Antonio celebrated his opening goal on Monday night by running to the fans and lifting up a cardboard cut-out of himself.

The former non-league player looks set for a big season at London Stadium after notching ten goals last term.

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Antonio has struggled with injuries in the past and, with the Hammers set for a season in the Europa League, boss David Moyes is well aware that he may need to be cautious with his demands for his main man.

And Moyes could be set to relieve the pressure on Antonio by attempting to sign Montpellier’s Gaetan Laborde.

According to 10 Sport, West Ham will submit an offer of £12.8m for the French striker before next Tuesday’s transfer deadline.

Laborde has scored two goals in his side’s opening three Ligue 1 matches of the season, with Montpellier picking up four points from those games.

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The 27-year-old arrived at Montpellier from Bordeaux in 2018 and has gone on to score 38 goals in 117 games for the club.

He enjoyed an impressive campaign last time out, notching 16 league goals.

Laborde has become a crowd favourite in France and has formed a deadly strike partnership with Andy Delort to transform Montpellier into European challengers.

The Frenchman could line-up alongside Antonio for the Hammers, with both players willing to rough up opposition defences as well as finding the back of the net.

West Ham have had a remarkable run since manager Moyes returned to the club for a second spell in December 2019.

The Hammers found themselves in 17th position and one point above the drop zone when Moyes took over from Manuel Pellegrini.

But Moyes soon turned the side’s fortunes around and West Ham eventually comfortably saw off relegation.

And last season, the Hammers secured European football for the first time in five years as they battled to a sixth-placed finish.

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