Academy Strikers Set For Their Chance
As Martin wrote yesterday, The Athletic‘s Roshane Thomas has suggested that Callum Marshall is likely to not feature in Nuno Espírito Santo’s plans for the new season, despite playing against Southend United. If that’s the case, following the departure of Callum Wilson, it leaves West Ham with just two notable strikers, Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe, assuming both remain at the club.
As such, outside of bringing in an additional striker, the club will also run the rule over two Scottish players that have had mixed fortunes since joining West Ham from Celtic and Hibernian respectively. Both players never featured in the squad for the game at Roots Hall but should get some minutes when West Ham visit Stevenage on Wednesday.
Cummings And Landers Hope To Impress
Daniel Cummings, now aged 20, joined last summer and suffered an injury-ravaged season in the academy, yet still managed 22 appearances across the EFL Trophy, National League Cup, Premier League International Cup, Premier League 2 and play-offs, scoring six goals and providing one assist.
The previous season, while at Celtic, he weighed in with 23 goals from 28 games, with an additional six in seven games via the UEFA Youth League.
West Ham could call on Cummings to fill striker void
Cummings did struggle with the physicality of the Premier League 2, winning only 22.2% of duels, yet is seen as a long-term project, and is likely to be loaned out in order to accelerate his development.
Meanwhile, Josh Landers (19) scored nine in 12 appearances for the U-18 team before being promoted to the U-21s, where he continued his impressive form, hitting nine goals in 20 games with one assist. He also scored three goals in various cup competitions. This led to a loan move at National League club Boreham Wood in March 2026, where the Scottish U-19 international made six appearances and contributed one goal. Luke Garrard was full of praise regarding the youngster during his brief spell there.
Landers is closer to Championship football than most fans think, given the feedback from the club’s coaching staff. He has the physical profile, the attitude, and the loan feedback that West Ham value. If the Hammers fail to bring in another striker, while Landers won’t necessarily start, he could easily become the surprise academy inclusion, offering depth from the bench across a gruelling 46-game season under Nuno.
I assume your use of the word “notable” is intended to mean “for the wrong reasons” as well as the right ones? Pablo does not fit the category of a notable striker in the positive sense, he doesn’t score goals. Even Castellanos is a stretch in this context. It sounds like we are resigned to another failed transfer window, which would also raise questions about the hurried appointment of a Director of Recruitment?
What about Ajala?
If Summerville goes need a replacement equivalent to his goals and pace.
18 goals when he was last in championship.
Diouf cannot defend we all no that but he can play wide left easily with a little coaching and thinking about when to cross the ball instead of just hitting it first time i believe he could be a surprise to many playing out their. Striker wise i would take that player from Swansea Vipotnik he would be a good back up and take the pressure of a young kid who could still develop alongside the first team.
Could take the view that Bowen is another option up front but if Summerville goes it means we then have very few options out wide. Overall I reckon our minimum requirement is to sign 2 attacking players, a creative midfielder, a right back (assuming AWB goes) and a centre half, and that is assuming a few academy players are ready to step in. Fingers crossed we get a few in soon.
I hope Landers gets his chance