After failing to sign a striker in the January transfer window, West Ham must look to recruit new players before the start of next season.
The sale of Sebastien Haller to Ajax in January has sparked much debate across West Ham’s fanbase, now that we haven’t signed a replacement for him.
Michail Antonio remains our only experienced striker at the club, but often has problems with his hamstrings. This has left the club in a poor situation, with our excellent start to the season in serious danger of crumbling.
Our lack of squad depth is close to being a major issue, now that Andriy Yarmolenko is set to spend a lot of time on the sidelines. If Antonio can’t play a game, we are only left with Mipo Odubeko – a talented but inexperienced U23 striker.
This means that we must desperately sign a striker in the summer’s transfer window, otherwise there could turmoil within the club.
West Ham were linked with a plethora of strikers in January, so we re-visit three of those who we should definitely consider signing ahead of the summer.
Which strikers and why?
Ivan Toney – Brentford
Brentford striker Ivan Toney signed for The Bees in September for only £5m. Many thought that he couldn’t replace the huge gap that Ollie Watkins left, but he has quickly proven people wrong and what a bargain he has turned out to be.
Since arriving, he has scored 23 goals and produced nine assists in the Championship, in only 28 appearances. He has the most goals and the most assists in the league, highlighting his remarkable rise this term.
The 24-year-old should certainly be one of David Moyes’ top transfer targets and we have already been linked to him. Toney will be highly sought after and would be a great addition to the squad.
He is a strong aerial threat, is fast and as we know he can find the back of the net. Although he is yet to prove himself on the big stage, he could be a perfect fit for our system in the 2021/22 season.
Odsonne Edouard – Celtic
Celtic’s main frontman Odsonne Edouard is also a striker we have been linked to over the past couple of months. The 23-year-old Frenchman has been in fine form for Celtic in the Scottish Premiership this season.
Edouard has already scored 13 goals to become top scorer in the SPL, while he has also scored two Europa League goals, which shows he can already play at a top level.
Tottenham and Arsenal were also reported to be interested in him in January, which means West Ham could face stiff competition for his signature.
His pace and scoring ability make him perfect for West Ham, as David Moyes likes a forward who can run in behind opposition defences. He is reported to be worth around £35m, however, which is a lot considering he hasn’t got any experience in England.
Abdallah Sima – Slavia Prague
One final man West Ham should consider approaching is Slavia Prague forward Abdallah Sima. He plays in the Czech first division and the Europa League, which is remarkable considering he was playing in the French fifth division just over a year ago.
He has been in fine form for his club side, scoring 18 goals and getting five assists in 25 appearances this season. During that time he has also attracted interest from Arsenal and Manchester United, which could increase his transfer value.
Like the previous two options above, Sima is fast, versatile and can finish, which means he could easily fit into Moyes’ preferred system. We need someone who can press high and make runs in behind, which would mean Sima could be a great addition to the team.
He may also be persuaded to come to London because of our strong ties with Slavia Prague. We signed both Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal from the Czech club, and they have both been excellent signings. Could Sima be next?
