SAM Baldock represents Bristol City's best chance of signing a value-for-money striker this summer.
Premier League newcomers West Ham United value the former MK Dons hit-man at £1.5 million and have already accepted a bid from the Robins. But the structural details of the deal that saw Nicky Maynard move in the opposite direction last January, mean City could land Baldock for a fraction of that fee.
City sold striker Maynard to the Hammers for £1.65m on transfer deadline day seven months ago, but only received £650,000 at the time.
The Post has learned that the remaining balance of £1m is to be paid in two further instalments and that these are due in January 2013 and January 2014. Rather than wait for West Ham to complete on the Maynard deal, City are insisting the outstanding amount of £1m be used to finance Baldock's proposed move to Ashton Gate.
Any such deal would mean City making a relatively modest down payment of around £250,000 for Baldock, pictured, with, for instance, the remaining £250,000 being based on appearances and payable at a much later date.
Given the shortage of available cash to fund manager Derek McInnes' transfer kitty, it is easy to see how such a package would be attractive to City officials.
Even though McInnes has shipped out a total of 13 players since the turn of the year to create room for new signings, he has had to be frugal in the transfer market.
Of the four players he has recruited so far this summer, Jody Morris, Paul Anderson and Tom Heaton were all free agents, while City paid a modest undisclosed fee to Manchester City for left-back Greg Cunningham.
Should Baldock agree personal terms this week and arrive at Ashton Gate as an overdue replacement for Maynard later this week, his transfer will also represent sound business for a club that has been forced to drastically cut costs after suffering losses of close to £30m in the past three years.
McInnes was linked with out-of-favour Leeds United striker Ross McCormack earlier this summer, but an asking price of around £2m and anticipated wage demands of at least £10,000 a week put the Scotland international beyond City's reach.
Owing to the circumstances created by Maynard's move to Upton Park at the start of the year, Baldock is an altogether more viable proposition for a club that is clearly not prepared to risk its financial future by paying exorbitant fees.
A renowned wheeler and dealer in the transfer market, Hammers boss Sam Allardyce is prepared to sell Baldock, who no longer figures in his plans now that West Ham have completed the loan-signing of Andy Carroll from Liverpool.
For his part, the former MK Dons marksman is more than happy to drop back down to the Championship if it means an opportunity to play regular first team football.
Having scored just five times in 22 appearances for the Hammers last season and lost his place to Maynard, the Bedford-born forward is unlikely to be given an opportunity in the top flight next term. Baldock returned from West Ham's pre-season tour of Germany on Sunday and he and his representatives are now set to hold talks with City boss McInnes.
But any deal is unlikely to be concluded until McInnes and his first team squad return from City's pre-season tour to Scotland on Thursday.
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