It’s no secret that West Ham are desperately hunting for a striker this January.
With Niclas Füllkrug now set for a swift exit — negotiations underway with three European sides — and Callum Wilson proving reliable but far from a long-term solution given his age and injury record, the Hammers are alarmingly short on options up top.
After scoring just 17 goals in 15 Premier League matches, Nuno Espírito Santo knows that securing a proper No.9 is essential for survival.
And now, West Ham have been sent a very clear message regarding one Serie A forward they have been tracking for months.
West Ham Sent Noslin Message by Sarri
We recently relayed reports that West Ham had been monitoring Lazio’s Tijjani Noslin ahead of the winter window, viewing the Dutchman as a potential cut-price option to boost their attacking depth.
Noslin only arrived in Rome last summer after a strong spell with Hellas Verona. He chipped in with six goals across 1,284 league minutes last season, showcasing his athleticism and ability to stretch defences.
But this year, it’s been a very different story. The 26-year-old has barely kicked a ball, with manager Maurizio Sarri handing him just 106 minutes of Serie A action and failing to start him in a single match.
That lack of involvement led to whispers of a possible winter departure — speculation that clearly reached West Ham’s recruitment team.
Sarri, however, has moved quickly to squash the idea.
Speaking to Tuttomercatoweb, the Lazio manager insisted Noslin is not on the market and still has a role in his squad: “I’m not thinking of him being sold. We haven’t discussed it.”
The Italian added that Noslin’s pace and ability to fill in as a makeshift striker will be useful in certain matches.
“In these games … we need a player who can play as a centre-forward. In more tight games, he’d struggle more,” he said. “I have the feeling he can help us.”
In other words, Lazio have no interest in letting him walk — and certainly not in January.
For West Ham, it may well be a blessing in disguise. A forward who can’t get minutes in Serie A would need time to adapt to the Premier League, and time is exactly what the Hammers don’t have.
