Former Iron names his top striker tip for Pelle

A huge discussion on the type of striker required by the Hammers has been the key issue since the season ended.

The names have dominated the headlines with Aleksander Mitrovic, Maxi Gomez and Salamon Rondon the trio in which the Hammers are interested.

However, with Rondon perhaps being tempted by his loan club Newcastle and Gomez priced out of their market it seems that the Fulham hitman is maybe the more likely option.

And at least one former Hammer believes he is precisely the right call for the club and that with him on board the club could break into the top six.

It may seem incredibly optimistic by most people’s standards but Matt Taylor seems convinced that the Serbian is the man who can do the business at exactly the right sort of price for us.

He was speaking exclusively to 888sport and unhesitatingly recommended the front man as the one to get.

He said: “I think Mitrovic has done extremely well. Is he someone who West Ham could be in the market for? I think so. He’s a striker who has proven his worth for a team that has struggled this season. Location wise he is already based in London.

Can they get him? I don’t know but the clubs will have done their work now for the past six months determining who is available and who fits into the parameters of their wage structure.

If you’re looking for someone to step into the void that Andy Carroll has left,  Mitrovic seems like a really good fit for me.”

And he aded: “ In the Premier League the margins between winning and losing is so slim and having played there for such a long period of time I mean that – scoring a goal is such a difficult thing to do.

Outside of the top six most team’s defences are quite similar: it’s their conversion of chances that separates them and that’s what West Ham need to be looking for.”

“Andy Carroll may be leaving and if he does there is a big chunk of money that can go on another striker and that will be their big thing.

They have the financial muscle now to compete for the best players and they need to spend a large amount of that budget on a player who can get you goals.

That is difficult because finding one that is proven costs a lot of money but that’s the same at every level of football.”

“Lanzini has been a big miss. Felipe Anderson has been in inspiring form. Arnautovic has been good be it with speculation surrounding his future. If they can add goals to this I expect them to have another successful season.”

Read the full 888sport interview with Matt Taylor and his thoughts on why the Hammers should be aiming for Europe