West Ham United are set to miss out on long term target Anthony Modeste after German newspaper Express have reported that the striker is set to move to the Chinese Super League with Tianjin Quanjian.
Modeste, formerly of Blackburn Rovers, enjoyed his best ever season in the Bundesliga in the previous campaign, finding the net an impressive 25 times for FC Koln, and had attracted interest from a number of European clubs including West Ham. The Hammers had previously enquired about signing the 29-year-old last summer, and only recently were alleged to be preparing a £26 million bid for the forward.
However the Frenchman now appears ready to cash in and make the move to China in a deal worth a reported £35 million (€40 million). In joining Tianjin Quanjian, Modeste would be linking up with Belgium star Axel Witsel and former AC Milan and Chelsea forward Alexandre Pato.
The news will come as disappointment to Hammers fans with the club in desperate search of a regularly scoring striker, as well as FC Koln fans who will be waving goodbye to their club talisman over the past two seasons.
Quanjian were heavily linked with a move for Chelsea striker Diego Costa earlier this year.
