A double striker transfer development is just what West Ham fans want to hear after strong links to two Premier League stars.
West Ham’s hunt for a new striker continues, more than two weeks since the club turned its full focus to signing one.
After landing Max Kilman from Wolves in a £40m deal, the Hammers revealed the energy of Tim Steidten is now focused on bringing in a new forward.
That is only one of five signings West Ham intend to make before the window closes.
Many strikers have been linked with moves to the London Stadium of late.
Jhon Duran has been at the top of the list with Hammers head coach Julen Lopetegui a big fan.
Villa were initially asking for too much money as West Ham confirmed they would not meet the 20-year-old Colombian’s £35m valuation.
Hammers turn attentions to Premier League duo
According to reports attentions then turned to Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Newcastle United’s Callum Wilson.
Those links did not go down well at all with many Hammers fans.
Supporters questioned why West Ham would sign either of the injury-prone Englishmen.
Especially Wilson, who turns 33 next season and has suffered with regular hamstring injuries throughout his career.
Yesterday a report in Italy claimed Napoli approached Villa for Duran.
But the Serie A side were told he will be signing for West Ham in a £31m deal.
There has been nothing to corroborate that information as yet.
But a double striker transfer development is just what most West Ham fans want to hear.
Striker development just what West Ham fans want to hear
Firstly West Ham have seen sense over Calvert-Lewin.
Hammers insider Sean Whetstone says the club were offered the Everton striker – who is in the last year of his contract – by an agent.
But Whetstone says Everton’s valuation of up to £37m together with huge wage demands of up to £130,000 per week and his injury record meant the offer was politely declined.
That would leave all paths leading to Newcastle’s Wilson if recent reports are anything to go by.
But smelling salts have been provided for the Hammers regarding signing Wilson.
Because he is set to miss the start of the 2024-25 Premier League season with yet another injury, according to Chris Waugh of The Athletic.
While the severity of Wilson’s injury remains uncertain, it’s enough to keep him out for at least a month or more.
Injury is the smelling salts West Ham needed
Eddie Howe confirmed the reported West Ham target “has gone to see a back specialist just to have a little procedure on his back.”
Most West Ham fans will be in agreement this is most certainly two bullets dodged.
On their day, when fit and firing, Calvert-Lewin and Wilson are excellent forwards.
But those days are increasingly infrequent.
With Steidten at the helm and Lopetegui in charge, Hammers supporters have been excited at the prospect of a new transfer blueprint at West Ham.
That’s why so many have been enthused by the ambitious move for a rising young star like Duran.
West Ham should be looking to sign the next Wilson and Calvert-Lewin not the ageing current stars who have both seen better days.
Hopefully this means West Ham will now be pushing to complete a deal for Duran as the report from Italy suggested.
Failing that a player of a similar profile should be targeted rather than players like Wilson and Calvert-Lewin – for whom a top technical director’s expertise really isn’t needed.
