West Ham remain determined to secure a striker in the upcoming January transfer window—a notoriously difficult period for recruitment, but several targets have already been identified and preliminary talks are underway.
Whether the club’s preferred option ultimately arrives at the London Stadium after Christmas is still uncertain.
Rio Ave striker, Clayton must be near the top of the list – the 26 year old is joint top scorer in Portugal with ten goals and two assists. West Ham scouts have been present watching the formidable forward. Contracted until 2029, complications arise from the fact that Rio Ave are owned by Nottingham Forest chief Evangelos Marinakis, who could potentially outmanoeuvre the Hammers: A double challenge to overcome.
Clayton would also been seen as a risky signing:
Having only scored 12 goals in 53 appearances for Casa Pia during his previous stint in the Portuguese top flight, he’s not Premier League proven-quality.
Another target high on the list is Promise David who we have mentioned a number of times. However, as we previously exclusively reported a source close to the player has indicated that he is hesitant about joining West Ham, especially with strong interest coming from several other clubs.
Despite this, West Ham are keen on the player, and could double or treble his current salary. David was playing third division football in Estonia before his stint at Union-Saint Gilloise and is widely expected to join Brighton in either this window or next summer.
Argentinian striker, Valentin Castellanos – covered by C and H yesterday – has been deemed surplus to requirements at Lazio. West Ham currently would only be interested in a loan deal, whereas the Italian giants are looking for a permanent deal in the region of £26m.
As the window approaches, West Ham face a delicate balancing act between ambition and pragmatism. The club’s pursuit of a reliable goalscorer highlights both their intent to strengthen and the challenges of navigating a competitive market.
Whether they opt for a calculated gamble or manage to land a proven talent, the outcome of this search could define their second half of the season.