There are several reports doing the rounds at the moment – maybe it is a ‘slow news’ week – regarding one particular striker with whom West Ham are already being linked next Summer. Now the background to this is quite logical. Irons’ venerable strike pair Mikhail Antonio and Danny Ings are both out of contract next Summer so reinforcements need to come from somewhere. We certainly won’t go into a new campaign and possibly a European Season ( I can hope ) with just one recognised thirty-something striker.
Focusing on TeamTalk’s report which is quoted by several Hammers sites today, “Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush is keen to secure a Premier League move in 2025“..”With Liverpool and Arsenal among those linked and with Crystal Palace and West Ham also keen“.
Apparently the twenty five year old Moroccan striker is keen to follow his friend Mo Salah to the Premier League. Nottingham Forest made several attempts but around the £20 million mark – to bring the player from the Bundesliga to the Midlands. Who can blame them for trying, the striker scored 17 goals last season in 43 appearances which would put him at the top table. An earlier report from OneFootball this year claimed he’d have a 50-60 million euro price tag!
From West Ham’s perspective, much as he sounds an attractive proposition, I see this as a non-starter next season from a purely financial background. The figures being discussed for his signature next summer -even allowing for the hype – are beyond the £40 million mark. If the interest from Liverpool and Arsenal is genuine then that is too high a figure for us to be considering spending: After the hundred and twenty – plus million spend this Summer, and the proximity to the limits on player wages, I wouldn’t expect West Ham to be making another near-record purchase any time soon.
From all of the tweets and e mails I’ve seen over recent weeks and months from various ‘sources’ within the club, West Ham are at the limits of wages and sustainability right now: Ings and Antonio’s wages off the books next Summer will ease things but won’t help PSR.
More likely we will be selling one of our prized assets – as I’ve set out before – depending on the Paqueta enquiry. Most of that income will be needed to balance our profit / loss figures to sit within PSR boundaries so, barring a miracle, Omar Marmoush at £40 million is well beyond Hammers’ reach next summer.
More Pearl Diving expected between now and then: Another young prospect in the £20 million range would be more likely and more sustainable.
Yes true, I think next summer will be all about balancing the books to be in line of PSR.
I really hope we get Europe as our squad is certainly good enough.
I agree with the £20M pearl dive type of striker but with age generally being younger and experience definitely on the lean side, how would a striker of this description get any game time given what we know so far?
Bowen to me seems to be the most likely candidate as a striker but my preference is keeping him where he is.
“More Pearl Diving expected between now and then: Another young prospect in the £20 million range would be more likely and more sustainable.”
Or another 30 something journeyman who’s never played in the Premier League before on a 4 year contract for £25m-£30m.