By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
West Ham have been linked with Swansea striker Zan Vipotnik once again, with ExWHUEmployee claiming on the West Ham Way Patreon that Nuno Espírito Santo wants the 24-year-old as part of his summer rebuild.
This is not the first time we have been down this road with Vipotnik, and I have to say I am no more convinced now than I was the last time his name was thrown into the mix.
Honestly, I cannot see the point.
A Basic Number Nine
There is no doubt the lad can score in the Championship. Twenty-three goals and the golden boot last season is a serious return, and clubs like Sporting and Benfica do not come sniffing around for nothing.
Vipotnik is, for me, a very basic number nine. He leads the line, he holds it up, he uses his frame, and that is more or less where the package ends.
He is also slow.
And that with the Hammers looking to clinch promotion and then survive in the Premier League, is the bit that worries me most. He’d likely be okay for a Championship challenge but to pay over £20m for someone who’d need replacing in the top flight seems silly.
West Ham Are Crying Out For Pace
West Ham’s problem for a long time has been too many slow players.
We are crying out for pace, for runners, for somebody who can stretch a back line and turn a tight game on its head in a single moment.
Vipotnik gives you none of that.
Signing a 24-year-old whose calling card is his physique, when the squad is desperately short of players who can go in behind and turn a game, feels like addressing the wrong problem entirely.
The thought of Pablo and Vipotnik is not exactly tantalising and I sincerely hope the club are looking elsewhere.
I’d Keep Castellanos Every Day
Which brings me, inevitably, to Taty Castellanos.
Castellanos may not have Vipotnik’s size or indeed his goals, but he has a far more rounded game, and in a team chasing promotion and then hoping to survive in the Premier League I would take the certainty of Taty single time.
He links the play, he drops in, he moves, and he gives you options that a hulking number nine simply does not.
I would keep Taty and spend the budget on the runners we so desperately need.
On Vipotnik, it is a very big no from me. At the moment, it increasingly feels like a link that should be allowed to quietly disappear.
Disagree with your opinion there fella.
We are a Championship side now and what better than signing that leagues top scorer from last season who was playing for a bang average Swansea side,we need a proven scorer at this level….if we can keep Tatty then that could be a formidable partnership at this level.
Let’s get promotion first then worry about who’s good enough for the Premier league…
Also,if memory serves me correct didn’t Gyokeres play and score goals for fun at Coventry ?
Very similar,big strong,can hold the ball up well and score for fun at that level and now proven in the Premier league…so for me id be happy to take the punt on him….Ok then,I put it to you would you rather get him or have a Pablo ? Nuff said.
Why can’t we play with him and Taty, Taty imho is better option as a 10 than a 9
We need to get out of the division this guy will give us the goals and physicality needed
I disagree a proven centre forward just needs to put the ball in the net! Look at harry kane he’s not fast but he scores goals for fun! We need a target man who can use his physical strength to retain the ball.If he is given decent service he will score lots of goals! We also need an attacking midfielder box to box type player who can supply through balls and crosses and corners.
We don’t need a target man to win, hold and retain the ball any more. We used to have to wait for Noble to run forward and make himself available for the offload but that never worked too well then and won’t work too well now.
We have moved on. Erling Harland does pretty well without standing and holding.
Just saying Stevie.