One of West Ham’s striker targets could compliment their attacking players better than anyone else.
It feels like an age since the Hammers last signed a striker who actually suited their style of play. Many have tried and failed to play the West Ham way but David Moyes seems determined to find the one this January.
As usual, the East London side have been linked with plenty of players ahead of the window but the club will soon have to make their decision on who they want to sign.
One name that has been linked with a move to the London Stadium for a while now is Hugo Ekitike, and this could finally be the time we get to see him play in Claret and Blue. The former Reims striker has not really had a fair crack at the whip since signing for PSG, but the French side apparently have seen enough to decide to let him go and, much to the delight of West Ham, it seems like they might be willing to let him leave on loan with an option to buy, according to various sources.
The 21 year old has all the attributes that Moyes will be looking for in a striker: he’s fairly tall at 6’2, his positioning is brilliant and he has a lethal finish These are all things that will go a long way to him succeeding under Moyes. However there are three key abilities that Ekitike possesses which could make him the perfect striker to fit into our front line.
Firstly, his dribbling is excellent. With the type of players he will have supporting him, being able to beat his man will help him fit right in. It is something that helped Antonio to score so many a few seasons ago, and it is something that Bowen does exceptionally well.
Secondly, for an out and out striker, his passing is sensational. He might not be pulling off the 50 yard passes that Paqueta does, but what he does excellently is finding those around him to increase the chance of scoring. Essentially, he is a team player and is not someone who is going to prevent our other attackers from scoring as often as they are, in fact he may be able to help them reach another level.
Finally, something Moyes will love is his defensive work rate. The French striker is not afraid to get stuck in, dig deep and fight for the ball. It is all well and good having the attacking capabilities, but under David Moyes you simply must be willing to do the dirty work when needed.
While Ekitike would undoubtedly be a phenomenal signing, there are certainly other options that could do just as well for us. The list of potential additions is full of real talent and the club has got to make sure who they bring in is not just a good player but, more importantly, someone who is actually going to suit our system. Signing the right striker could be what pushes us on to that next level which we are so close to reaching.
