Last winter West Ham fans received a very welcome shock as not one but two strikers joined the Hammers’ ranks in the January transfer window: Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe arrived to universal acclaim but it would be fair to say their achievements have been mixed since their moves.
Castellanos at least has bagged a handful of goals whereas Pablo hasn’t troubled the scorers and divides opinion amongst Hammers fans.
However it seems reinforcements – whatever the ramifications for Taty and Pablo – are under consideration with not one, but two new forwards reported as being ‘ready to join‘: Could a double signing really be on the cards again this summer?
“West Ham in talks to sign TWO strikers – and both are ready to join
..The Hammers have opened talks over potential moves for Senegal international forward Bamba Dieng and Republic of Ireland striker Troy Parrott.
Bamba Dieng is a free agent now
Sources have confirmed to us that West Ham are actively assessing a number of centre-forward options before the transfer window closes, with head coach Nuno Espirito Santo keen to strengthen his attacking department ahead of the new season.” (Teamtalk)
The negotiations over Troy Parrott are well documented: However free signing Bamba Dieng was the subject of our own source’s claim last week that West Ham were considering a free signing.
The 26 year old Senegalese centre forward is out of contract following his departure from French Ligue 1 side FC Lorient and of course scored in the summer World Cup for his national side.
One would be excellent. Both would surely signal the exit door for Pablo, Taty or quite possibly the pair.
Definitely 2 interesting strikers. Reading Richard’s comments, if ever played 4-4-2, imagine the danger caused having Parrott & Dieng as a central duo with 4 players including Bowen, creating chances for them to put away… I’d like to see that.
Free agents ! Generally for a good reason.
With all due respect, I think your source(s) is having you on, we have signed one player who wasn’t here already, freebie, and as per usual linked with a plethora of players and despite having a new Director of Football and Championship know it all, we have signed no-one worthy of a fee and then hear that we are quibbling over a bonus fee of £2 million to Spurs on top of a small transfer fee of £5 million for Solomon
Logic will tell you we have no money to spend and are skint, if we sign Parrott and Engels I will eat my hat
Dieng scored 10 league goals last season and registered one assist for a team that finished 10th in Ligue 1. Not great stats. However, may well do a job in the Championship and for a free signing he’s worth the punt. Still can’t believe Parrott is being talked about in the region of £30m, it’s utterly ludicrous
Ideally for any team there should be two players to cover every position.
Fatigue/injury/suspensions.
Tatty/Pablo/Dieng/Parrott keep all four of them.
Whu notorious for having weak sub bench.
We lost Wilson and Marshall so two new strikers just restocks the squad.
And hopefully Halfkrug on his way, with many academy strikers being linked with loans
It would be a huge shame to lose Taty now.
Why would it signal the exit for the pair?
If Nuno is insistent on playing 4-4-2 we need at least 4 strikers. Taty, Pablo, Parrot and Dieng, plus Ajala.
If Nuno wanted to move to 4-2-3-1 then it may signal that Taty would be used more of a 10 (competing potentially with Engels or Earthy).
I think we get more out of Bowen in a 4-2-3-1/4-3-3, and I really hope that is how it’s being looked at. I’m happy with Cornet being our second choice winger on the left, I think he’s looked good in pre-season, but we need a starter over that side. (Adringa, perhaps). I’d be happy for Thomas to come in too (So Bowen, Adringa, Thomas and Cornet as our options). If the Engels deal happens, then you’d expect him to play alongside Magassa in the middle of the park. I’d personally then prefer to play Taty in a 10 role, but I think the likelihood is that Nuno would prefer 3 in midfield, and given the sheer volume of midfielders (Soucek, Ward-Prowse, Alverez, Kante plus Orford and Lamadrid) you’d imagine that’s whats being looked at.
I don’t think bringing in two strikers will signal whether Taty and Pablo will be off, I think it’s more where the squad building goes after this. To be honest, I have a horrible feeling that we’ll see Dieng come in, and Adringa on loan, but the transfers that need big money (Engels, Thomas, Parrot) will fizzle out. Money and cash flow was tight – but if DK is having to spend cash to buy shares right now, he might not have the cash to also loan to the club, or of course, want to.