Hammers linked to Juventus striker

Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic – the 33 yar old striker linked with Manchester United ahead of Romelu Lukaku’s Old Trafford departure -is now being reported as being a West Ham winter target

The Mirror claims Manuel Pellegrini is dealing with a “striker crisis” at the club with just Seb Haller and Albian Ajeti available despite Xande Silva being added to the squad of 25 following Chicharito’s departure.

Silva is expected to be ready next month after bowel surgery and it seems that the manager has made a calculated decision on the young Portuguese front man with January still a distant consideration.

Should he have been interested at all in Mandzukic is seems more probable he would have made  this summer rather than wait a further three months to solve a situation of which he was probably aware sometime before Hernandez completed his move to Sevilla.

At 33 years of age the Croatian looks to be a highly speculative name thrown into the frame notably with Antonio set to be fit by January anyway.