Evident from yesterday’s season opener, the Hammers urgently need new recruits. The hardworking Pablo, apparently, felt a calf issue and was withdrawn at half time, leaving Nuno bereft of further attacking options against Burnley and in the end picking on a midfielder to change the shape of his side. And it didn’t end well.
Having said goodbye to Callum Wilson at the end of last season, West Ham have just two strikers in their side, even assuming that Pablo – with zero return in eighteen games save a solitary assist – is considered a ‘striker’ in the true sense of the word.
Links with Troy Parrot and Jamie Vardy have persisted in recent weeks and you’d feel either would have been be welcomed with open arms – but the focus, as we detailed yesterday, appears to have shifted. Sadly, it looks like the end of West Ham’s pursuit of Troy Parrott, after talks apparently collapsed on Sunday evening with Alkmaar’s price expectations unattainable for the Irons.
Dutch journo Rik Elfrink ( A PSV source) on X’ confirmed this morning that the Hammers have pivoted:
“West Ham United has offered 15 million pounds for Joël Piroe, the former PSV striker. His management confirmed this to the ED this morning. He wants to leave Leeds United and that chance seems significant. The parties are in talks. PSV will receive about half a million if it goes through.”
Joel Piroe: Now reported as West Ham’s next signing with personal terms agreed.
Further developing news, as we’ve covered this morning, suggests that the deal between Leeds and West Ham for Piroe could be a loan with obligation to buy – which could end up a smart move enabling funds to be spent on another recruit before 2nd September.
So close is the deal – thanks to West Ham’s belated urgency to add to their striker options, that a medical could take place tomorrow, according to exWHUEmployee.
The initial reaction is to see Piroe as a poor second choice compared with Parrott.
But a thought to consider for West Ham fans before ‘dissing’ the option of signing Piroe is his Championship record:’Horses for courses”, surely, as the Leeds striker has 74 goals in 182 starts in the second tier: That kind of form could enable him to notch 18 goals should he join the Hammers this season in the 45 game-remaining Championship campaign.
It’d also be a welcome reunion for the striker with former team mate Manor Solomon, with whom he shared a highly successful partnership season when at Leeds.
Being able to call on Piroe has to be a better option than the hardworking but ineffective Pablo who hasn’t troubled the scorers in a West Ham shirt. Suddenly 74 Championship goals looks a decent option. And at 27 he’s hardly past it by West Ham standards.
Firstly we tried to sign a parrott Now weve turned to an inspector Poroe Good player by the way what comes next 😃 Got to have something to cheer about havnt we
On second thoughts, Valdi on a free surely has to be a better option.
Agree, for the most part. However, we do have to bear in mind that he is proven to be limited to justice level and so we should be sure not to pay too much and looked to recoup a similar value in a year time when we get promoted, fingers crossed.
Done a great job Koppen hasnt he 🤣 What is it with us Why cant we operate in a normal manner like other clubs i suggest we get in a new c back and fast otherwise our goals agaist column will be as bad as last year
When Leeds were in the Championship they played bold attacking football something Nervous Nuno seems unable to fathom. Piroe needs to have great delivery as he is a good finisher, but not much more. With Nervous Nuno’s playing style I think he will be isolated and ineffective.
The fee probably won’t be much different to that required to sign Parrot so it dooesn’kit. make much sense to me.
Piro and Solomon joining forces again brilliant move as they both had there best season together in the championship
You really are a glass half empty kind of person aren’t you.
I’m not entirely sure Tatty wants to be at the club. He was miles off his standard of last season. Maybe that’s why we are in for him. We will struggle to get top players to the club. As for Parott his club have probably had a few clubs in for him and playing the game. We shouldn’t pay over the top after all he has one good season.
I also agree with Mark Wiggins. we agreed terms with Parrott what seams like months ago now and he openly said yes he wants 2 join us. how’s the saying go. ”We-Dangled-That-Carrot” and then kicked the feet from under him leaving him flat on his ”A$$”
Not the way 2 treat people. ”THEY-SHOULD-BE-ASHAMED-OF-THEMSELFS” not the way 2 do business guys.
So the idea is just to give the selling club the millions more they are asking for? That additional amount may be more than you’ll earn in your lifetime? Or perhaps agree to sell on fees that ensure we’ll be unlikely to make any real money if we sell the player in the future?
‘The hard working Pablo’ Seriously. The man is not a fooballer. The most crooked transfer deal in the clubs history and the nan behind it, Nuno is still here. It stinks.
Pablo was an out and out front man in Portugal and wehave asked him to play a completely different role. Our energy and press vanished when Pablo was forced off at half time.
Piroe has been an excellent striker at Championship level and offers another option.
Talking about strikers Ajala should have replaced Pablo his pace may given a different result.
Still being linked to Wilson Isidor roughly priced as Parrott which would complete to strikers needed.
His speed is exceptional.
You’ve spoken about his championship goals but how did he fair last season in the prem. after all those are the sort of players the management said he wants
He was needed after Calvert joined
The board & Koppen should be ashamed . They need to do back resurrect the deal for Parrott and pay up. I am not happy with this transfer why just because he is available same old mistakes . Rather then get what we need we go for a striker who certainly is not a first choice probably not even 2nd or 3rd choice ! Cheap options we are so tight sold a lie by the board .
I agree that he will be a much bigger goal threat than Pablo, but we will then need Piroe or Taty to do the pressing work or the midfield will be more exposed. Not entirely sure what the plan is for the midfield, the team selection next weekend should be very interesting.
All I keep hearing about is offensive players being looked at, does nobody at the club think we need defensive players ? Wan / Diouf / Todibo going..Disasi gone and Killman still as bad as he was last season as far as I can see..what does that leave us with apart from Mav…nobody else with the experience to get us promoted I’m afraid.