West Ham hatch plan to sign another striker as deal agreed – sources. West Ham will need to sell players if they are to add another striker before the 30 August transfer deadline, sources have told Football Insider.
The Irons announced the signing of Germany international Niclas Fullkrug on Monday evening (5 August), with the forward signing a four-year deal at the London Stadium. Fullkrug, 31, has cost around £27million – a large portion of the remaining transfer budget for Julen Lopetegui and technical director Tim Steidten.
West Ham had also been in negotiations to sign Aston Villa forward Jhon Duran but that deal has been scrapped following the arrival of Fullkrug.
The ex-Dortmund star, who scored in last season’s Champions League final, will be the first-choice striker ahead of Michail Antonio and Danny Ings.
West Ham must sell players to sign Fullkrug understudy
But with Fullkrug already 31, West Ham will have to sell first-team stars if they are to bring in an understudy for their new hitman. He scored 16 goals and notched 10 assists in 46 games last season after joining Dortmund from Werder Bremen.
The 21-cap star scored twice in five substitute appearances for Germany at the European Championships on home soil. West Ham’s top scorer last term was winger Jarrod Bowen, who hit 20 goals – while midfielder Mohammed Kudus also chipped in with 14 strikes.
Lopetegui starts his new era in charge of the Hammers with a home clash against Aston Villa on 17 August.
