West Ham are already regretting some of their striker signing choices in the summer transfer window if a new claim is anything to go by.
The Niclas Fullkrug situation is somewhat typical of West Ham’s luck when it comes to striker signings.
One of West Ham’s big summer signings was £23.5m veteran Fullkrug.
The Hammers had to go out and get a top forward in the summer.
The German became striker signing number 53 since 2010.
Some West Ham fans questioned the signing of Fullkrug given his age, lack of pace and injury record.
Fullkrug was kept on the bench by Julen Lopetegui for the first three games of the season.
The 31-year-old made it clear after the first weekend of being on the bench that he has not joined West Ham to play back-up to Michail Antonio.
Lopetegui has been drip-feeding new signings. But there have been suggestions Fullkrug was not his pick as Steidten made a point of highlighting the fact they’d worked together previously at Werder Bremen.
Has Steidten already realised Fullkrug mistake at West Ham?
The forward has been out injured since the September international break.
And as exclusively revealed by the top source inside the club to Hammers News last week, Fullkrug will not return until the game at Spurs after the next break at the earliest.
Many fans wanted to see the club sign the young, dynamic striker they felt was needed – like Aston Villa star Jhon Duran.
Despite being widely regarded to have had one of the club’s best ever windows, West Ham cannot escape the sense of regret – and criticism – over their failed pursuit of the 20-year-old Colombian forward.
While West Ham continue to toil with 34-year-old Antonio up front, Duran has been smashing it with Villa.
Every time Duran scores or shines – which is every game at the moment – West Ham fans can be heard asking the same question – ‘why didn’t we just pay the extra £5m’.
That of course refers to the alleged gap in valuation which saw West Ham ditch the move for Duran and turn their attentions to Fullkrug.
Many Hammers fans fans feel the striker department is one key area that was not properly addressed in the summer.
A top West Ham spokesman told Hammers News at the weekend that Steidten chose to sign Fullkrug and Luis Guilherme instead of just Duran.
It remains to be seen whether, when fit, Fullkrug is going to work out at West Ham.
But supporters felt the club needed to sign two strikers regardless of his arrival.
That has already been proved correct with the Hammers woefully short of any quality in depth up front.
West Ham linked with January move for Lopetegui pick Duro
Has Steidten now realised his big Fullkrug mistake as West Ham are linked with a January move for a Lopetegui pick.
According to an exclusive from Caught Offside, for whom Fabrizio Romano is a top source, West Ham are ‘serious’ about signing Valencia forward Hugo Duro ‘in the very near future’.
“West Ham United are also making serious moves to sign Duro,” the report states.
“It is understood that manager Julen Lopetegui sees Duro’s energy and goal-scoring ability as a major potential asset for the Hammers’ attack.
“It’s been a poor start to the season for Lopetegui’s West Ham, so one imagines there could be some room for further strengthening the squad at the next opportunity.
“It is likely that Valencia will seek a transfer fee in the range of €25-30 million (£20-25m), considering Duro’s potential and recent performances.”
The 24-year-old scored 13 goals and laid on two assists in 35 games last season for Valencia.
Duro has already found the net twice in five games this term too.
The jury is out on whether the signing of Fullkrug was a mistake. It’s far too soon to make that call.
But Steidten’s biggest mistake was not signing two strikers given Antonio is in his last season and Ings’ face doesn’t fit.
So it is encouraging that the Hammers are already planning to address the issue when January rolls around three months.
Related Topics