Twist as West Ham respond to news of major double striker breakthrough. West Ham pledged to move as quickly as possible to bring in a striker for new boss Graham Potter and there have been developments.
Niclas Fullkrug and Michail Antonio have added further credibility to the West Ham striker curse theory this season.
Their long-term injuries, coupled with injuries to Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville, left Hammers manager Graham Potter with seriously limited options in his first two games.
But after impressing in a brilliant first half at Villa, West Ham followed that up by beating Fulham 3-2. Lucas Paqueta was played as a forward in that game and was man of the match.
Danny Ings also showed a great attitude when coming on as a substitute to force what turned out to be the winner.
With Fullkrug out for three months and Antonio out for the season, there is no doubt West Ham must go out and sign a striker in the January transfer window.
Getting striker signings right has not been the club’s forte in the last 15 years, though.
Potter has already stated it is important to sign the right player and character to fit the system and team rather than bringing somebody in ‘for the sake of it’.
The Hammers have been linked with a wave of names in recent days and weeks. With the win over Fulham breathing some life into the campaign, there is still an outside hope of a late charge for the European spots.
Especially given what Potter has been able to get across to his team in just one week.
But many Hammers fans feel signing a striker and a midfielder is a necessity.
Now there’s been a twist as West Ham respond to news of a major double striker breakthrough.
West Ham respond to major double striker breakthrough. Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg is a close confidant of West Ham technical director Tim Steidten. So his news out of the London Stadium carries extra credibility.
Today Plettenberg has claimed West Ham are in advanced talks with Nottingham Forest over a deal for forward Taiwo Awoniyi.
The Nigerian has been linked with the Hammers for several weeks and the rumours aren’t going away. Plettenberg says West Ham are now making a ‘serious attempt’ to sign Awoniyi from the high-flying Tricky Trees ‘with immediate effect’.
The German journalist says ‘talks have started’ over a deal for the 27-year-old.
https://twitter.com/Plettigoal/status/1879465130741940310
View Tweet
That was followed by a report from Bild that West Ham have also agreed a deal for RB Leipzig flop Andre Silva.
Silva, 29, has scored just one goal this season and has made zero starts in the Bundesliga.
Bild have claimed Portuguese striker Silva is ‘about to leave’ for West Ham and has been left out of Leipzig’s game at Stuttgart tonight as a result.
But Plettenberg has responded to those claims, stating Silva is actually only a back-up option for the Hammers. He did however claim Leipzig are open to both loan and permanent deals.
🚨⚒️ André #Silva is one of the backup candidates for West Ham in the winter transfer window. However, he is not the club’s top priority, and the topic is not currently hot. #WHUFC
Silva remains a candidate for sale for RB Leipzig this winter. The club is open to selling the… pic.twitter.com/sluaL7vzjJ
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) January 15, 2025
View Tweet
Big Potter twist to West Ham’s Awoniyi and Silva links
Given the sudden acceleration in the striker deal talk, Hammers News reached out to the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners about the situation.
And the response has thrown something of a curveball.
Although it may be welcomed by many fans who were not keen on either Awoniyi or Silva.
Because West Ham’s reaction was telling when asked whether moves for Awoniyi, Silva or other strikers were true.
“The manager is not sure about any of the choices,” a spokesman for West Ham’s owners exclusively told Hammers News.
This may frustrate some West Ham fans.
But it is actually really refreshing to hear Potter wants to get the right man rather than rush things and get it wrong.
It’s also good to hear the new boss is having a big say on transfers. After all it is his system the new forward will have to fit into.
