Modibo Maiga could be set to return to France within the coming days.
The Mali international, who had played in the pivotal attacking role in Andy Carroll's enforced pre-season absence could be on his way back to France, if Saint-Etienne get their way.The Ligue 1 outfit, who won the opening fixture of their 2013/14 league campign last night courtesy of a 1-0 away to Ajaccio, are set to make Maiga their prime traget his week as they seek to add another forward to their squad.
And according to reports emanating from the other side of the Channel, Les Verts are hoping to take the 25-year-old striker on loan for the entirety of the 2013/14 season, with view to a permanent transfer thereafter.
Maiga, who joined West Ham in a £4.5million switch from Sochaux 13 months ago has failed to cement a place in West Ham's first XI, much to the frustration of the club's coaching staff who believe that the player has the ability, but not necessarily the mental aptitude to prove a hit in the Premier League.
Sam Allardyce's number two Neil McDonald, speaking about the player recently said: "Modibo’s ability is there. When you sign new players sometimes they take a bit longer to settle into the team.
"He’s just been waiting for his chance to show what he can do and hopefully he can score goals on a regular basis, try to work out where we want him to run to, hold the ball up and interlink. That side of his game is much better than it has been."
* Jack Sullivan has revealed [Monday morning] that the club hope to sign "an International player in the next few days".
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