West Ham face a striker crisis this winter, with uncertainty over Niclas Fullkrug’s future and Callum Wilson available to move elsewhere.
Reinforcements are essential, and a lot of blame will be pointed at former manager Graham Potter, who claimed in the last transfer window that he did not need another striker.
Fast forward to the forthcoming window and the Hammers are now actively scouting for one or even two strikers to bolster their attack.
Adama Traore is likely to join in a cut price move from Fulham and Nuno (who has form for picking players out of position) could position Traore as a makeshift forward.
However outside of this transfer, C&H has been told by a top transfer source that signing an outright striker is West Ham’s absolute priority.
Claret & Hugh believes that the key striker targets are Ivan Toney and Franculino Dju, while the club has also been linked with a move for Joshua Zirkzee. While there is genuine interest in in the first two, C&H have been told that the Manchester United striker has not even been discussed.
However, it is understood that West Ham bosses have agreed to Espirito Santo’s demand and the club prioritise the signing of a striker above all others.
Franculino Djú is wanted by West Ham United
Competition for Striker Signature
Toney has a number of other clubs looking to secure a loan deal, with his parent club Al Ahli reportedly only prepared to allow a short term deal, yet would expect any club to stump up his astronomical wages. To match this after tax income a Premier League club would need to pay him around £1m a week before tax. As such this transfer is highly unlikely.
Dju, who was linked in the summer window is also wanted by many clubs. His form in the Danish Super Liga is impressive, 36 goals in 69 appearances, yet there is a risk that the step up to the Premier League may be too much for the young striker. His club Midtjylland are demanding a Danish record fee for the attacker.
Zirkzee has experience in the Premier League, and is deemed surplus to requirements by Ruben Amorim.
The January window is crucial and will define whether West Ham can climb away from danger or remain stuck in a relegation fight.
None of the above please no ! We have are own youngsters who would suit more..
I think we will go for a loan ( if we can) for a third choice forward who’s not getting enough games but is hungry to get in their own world cup squad, then reassess in the summer, depending on what league we’ve ended up in..
I really think Franculino is the real deal. Unbelievable in Denmark, 3 goals and 3 assists in 6 CL games last year, and pace, tricks, and power to burn! Please let it be him!
This Adama Traore stuff doesn’t make sense, the guy is not a first team starter and limited impact from the bench.
I often wonder are there some players that are transferred around in such a way that the someone can get a cash advance from the agent, Fullkrug and Steidten is another odd one given the fee…
According to rumour (from his club) Toney is staying put and Zirkee is going abroad.
I’m not a Potter fan but I am not convinced that he is to blame for the lack of a striker. We still have to buy, so we simply didn’t and as yet don’t have the money.
Even if we didn’t buy the calamity Hermandsen, we would only have £16m for a forward, and we’ve bought plenty of failed strikers for far more than that.
I see Potter’s comments more as a way of deflecting criticism away from the Board and seeking to try and get us fans to focus on the players he did buy.
Our lack of striking talent goes back a long way, with the one consistent being Sullivan and poor management of transfers.
Dju would be my pick he’s young hungry and fast. I would also put a bid in for Troy parrot as well.