West Ham striker search over as Sam swoops for Sakho

West Ham United, 13/5 with Coral for a top 10 finish, have signed a third new striker this summer with the capture of Metz and Senegal forward Diafra Sakho on a four-year contract for a reported fee of £3.5m.

Hammers boss Sam Allardyce has been seeking cover for injured record signing Andy Carroll, and was linked to several names, including former Chelsea frontman Samuel Eto’o and Peter Crouch, before settling on Sakho. The 24-year-old has been a scoring sensation, firing Metz to consecutive promotions back into Ligue 1.

Big Sam has also swooped for Ecuador’s World Cup star Enner Valencia and Argentine attacker Mauro Zarate, a one-time Birmingham City loanee, to bolster his forward options at Upton Park. West Ham fans were vocal in their displeasure of the club’s style under Allardyce last term, leading the board to issue him with the brief of entertaining football and a top 10 finish for this season.

Sakho was voted the French Ligue 2’s Player of the Season for 2013/14, after his 20 goals took Metz to the title. He will work with new Hammers attacking coach Teddy Sheringham, and compete with Zarate, Valencia and Carlton Cole for a starting spot.

Talking to West Ham TV, Sakho said: “This is a proud day to have signed for West Ham, I really love English football and I’ve dreamed of coming to play for one of the big English clubs.

“Today, West Ham have given me that opportunity and I didn’t hesitate to grab it. I’m looking forward to playing. It’s more than a month now that I’ve been training for this and right now I think I’d be ready to pull on the club colours.

“I’ve come here to continue as I was at Metz. I’m going to give it my all, going flat out on the pitch and I think the fans will appreciate that.”

The Hammers are 9/2 chances to be relegated this season.