It seems West Ham can’t go wrong as a journalist unveils the four exciting names on the club’s striker target list this summer. David Moyes often bemoaned the dearth of quality strikers available in the transfer market during his time at West Ham.
Moyes got rid of Sebastien Haller and took nearly two years to replace him with Gianluca Scamacca.
But he couldn’t make that work for West Ham either and the Italian was sold for a loss 10 months later. Both Haller and Scamacca have shone since leaving the Hammers.
That – and the success of striker signings at other clubs of a similar size and profile to the Hammers – suggests it is West Ham that is the problem. Well it seems new head coach Julen Lopetegui does not share Moyes’ view on strikers in the transfer market.
Lopetegui and Steidten looking to succeed where Moyes failed
Ask any West Ham fan where the Spaniard needs to strengthen most and the majority will say the same, up front and at centre-back.
Tim Steidten has reportedly made signing two central defenders and a new forward his top priority at West Ham. Things just haven’t worked out for ageing Danny Ings and he is available for transfer.
Michail Antonio has rediscovered some form of late. But he turns 35 next season and while he will be a more than useful squad player for West Ham next term, Lopetegui and Steidten are going in search of a bona fide new striker.
Earlier this month Hammers News exclusively revealed Lopetegui’s striker target on a list presented to David Sullivan and Steidten.
It is that man Youssef En-Nesyri, who played his best football under the 57-year-old during their time together at Sevilla.
The Hammers do have other irons in the fire, though.
Journalist unveils four names on striker target list
And West Ham can’t go wrong as a journalist unveils the four names on the striker target list. According to Give Me Sport’s Danny Rust, Steidten and Loptegui have four top quality strikers in their sights.
The plan is to sign one of them and any of the quartet would be a huge upgrade for West Ham.
Give Me Sport has confirmed what we told you weeks ago, that En-Nesyri is one of the four targets. But it has now been revealed that En-Nesyri’s fellow African stars Victor Boniface and Serhou Guirassy, as well as Armando Broja, are the other three.
The exclusive report claims Bayer Leverkusen star Boniface is actually the prime target.
Rust says West Ham are huge admirers of Boniface.
That certainly tallies with reports back in January claiming the owners were going to back Steidten with a club record bid for the Nigerian.
“West Ham ‘really like’ Boniface, according to GMS sources, and technical director Tim Steidten is looking more seriously at potential frontman acquisitions ahead of the transfer window reopening for business in the coming weeks thanks to putting plans in place just a matter of days after Moyes’ second spell in the hot-seat came to an end,” the report claims. There are doubts over Boniface’s availability, though. So En-Nesyri is second choice on the list ahead of Guirassy.
Hammers can’t go wrong with any of quarte
Finally the report claims West Ham will consider a move for longstanding target Broja if Chelsea lower their asking price.
The Slough-born Albanian clearly has no future at Chelsea and was loaned out to Fulham last season. Moyes said there were no quality strikers out there for West Ham to sign.
But Lopetegui and Steidten will disprove that very swiftly if they can lure one of those four to the London Stadium.
Any of them would make a major difference. It would free Jarrod Bowen up to play in his preferred position on the right.
Mohammed Kudus could play in his own preferred position, central attacking midfield. Old warhorse Antonio could then come in and play his part to share the workload.
