West Ham linked again | “As a third-choice striker, he’s fantastic”

With the news that one of the Premier League’s most successful strikers is set to leave Leicester City at the end of the season, it hasn’t taken long for Vardy and West Ham to be mentioned in the same sentence.

Nobody can deny the Hammers need a striker and there is a dearth of quality number ‘9’s available – huge fees are being demanded and a short term deal to bring Vardy to London Stadium might suit both parties. Certainly striker-turned pundit Troy Deeney was waxing lyrical on TalkSport today after the news that Vardy was quitting Leicester after thirteen years:

“Let’s just use West Ham as a case study: They’ve got Fullkrug, they’re probably going to try and get another striker, Jamie Vardy as a second or third option is fantastic.. Ive think he’d be a great option for a lot of teams”

Ignoring for a second Vardy’s age – he’s thirty eight – he’s certainly still got the legs for another season and with over 250 goal involvements still has a lot to offer as a third choice player off the bench without breaking the bank. Vardy was linked with the Hammers some weeks ago so this is not a new story but one that we will have to watch: If Vardy gets a knock or an illness then you know it is the good ol’ West Ham striker curse proving the suggestions have substance!

Sad to realise that is the level at which West Ham have to operate, but with one of the youngsters stepping up as a fourth choice alongside a rehabbing Antonio, providing they get their recruitment for the mythical ‘top man’ / first choice  sorted out then it is certainly an improvement on how things stand at present.

Somehow I just can’t see Liam Delap materialising as West Ham’s first choice number nine but Niclas Fulkrug and Jamie Vardy probably couldn’t manage a game a week between them- let alone a season – so a new first choice front man is non-negotiable this summer.