THE reports are never ending – Brazilian, Mexican, Italian, Argentine, Portugese- even English Ivan Toney from the Middle East -strikers from leagues of all nationalities are being linked with pending bids from a West Ham side desperate for goals. Had the Hammers bitten the bullet last summer then the search might not have been so frenetic with just a four week window looming.
However there’s growing evidence to suggest that instead of diving into Europe’s top leagues, the Hammers are setting their sights on domestically-sourced players in a bid to circumvent the ‘acclimatisation’ problems of getting foreign imports upto speed and embedded in a UK lifestyle.
The need for a player to hit the ground running next month means there’s little room to be indulgent towards a foreign – based player landing in east London in winter.
The Sun.co.uk are convinced it’ll be a Championship player: Norwich’s Josh Sergeant is their pick for a Hammers bid and there seems growing noise to suggest that £15 million will do the deal:
According to the Sun: “West Ham plot £15m transfer raid for Norwich star Josh Sargent as Nuno Espirito Santo prepares to dump £27.5m striker “
Yesterday’s reports of Swansea City’s Zan Vipotnik being lined up by Max Hahn offer a further insight into the Hammers’ direction of travel.
Of course, Jarrod Bowen‘s arrival from Hull City in the January transfer window of 2020 is the gold standard that Nuno will try and emulate by elevating a talented Championship forward to Premier League stardom: Coventry City’s Haji Wright is another of whom much is expected and who’d be available at a West Ham-friendly price, should the Irons be able to prise him away from his midlands team mid season.
Whether any of the scouted options will be up to the task of competing against some of the best defences in the world is another matter altogether. After 57 attackers signed in the Sullivan era, nobody is getting their hopes up just yet that number 58 will set the world on fire.
O Martin, silly you. Those 57 attackers have all been signed by all our useless managers. Now we have an ace, best of class DoF taking the responsibility in the form of our beloved chairman. We will have the next Lionel Messi signed by the 2nd January to ensure we have maximum benefit of him for the remainder of the season!
Maybe I’ve indulged in the Christmas sherry too early!!!!!
A young forward who is able to play 90 minutes in the vast majority of matches, hold the ball for long enough to start attacking phase, take defenders up blind alleys, be a constant offensive presence would be something.
Wilson does a good job, but known before the start for 65 minutes, not in two games that are too close together, with the constant concern of will he break down.