West Ham have a major striker issue with no return date set for injured Niclas Fullkrug but a solution may have presented itself.
West Ham seem to be cursed when it comes to strikers.
They either flop, get injured or on the rare occasion they do well they leave the Hammers all too soon.
Niclas Fullkrug is the latest victim of the West Ham striker curse.
Although many would argue the warning signs were there for what’s happening right now.
The wisdom of signing a 31-year-old forward with a lengthy injury record was questioned in the summer.
But technical director Tim Steidten and Julen Lopetegui opted to bring in Fullkrug instead of a younger forward without a history of injuries.
Fullkrug has now missed more than half of West Ham’s games so far.
There have been rumours he needs an operation. Those rumours have, worryingly, neither been confirmed or denied by West Ham.
Fullkrug the latest victim of the West Ham striker curse?
The issue has put Steidten’s decision to bring Fullkrug to east London firmly in the spotlight.
The German defended the signing this week, saying the ex Dortmund man was the type of character and leader West Ham sorely needed.
Fullkrug was nowhere to be seen in training again this week as West Ham prepare to face Spurs next weekend.
Lopetegui is now left relying on an ageing Michail Antonio – who has one goal in seven games so far this season.
Danny Ings is his only back-up.
West Ham are now less than three months away from the January transfer window and an opportunity to address the situation.
Now it seems a solution may have presented itself.
Striker regrets not joining West Ham and wants second chance
Because a striker regrets not joining West Ham just months into a big summer move.
And he reportedly wants a second chance in January.
According to a report at the time from El Periodico Mediterraneo, the Hammers made a formal bid to sign striker Alexander Sorloth from Villarreal in the summer.
The report claimed West Ham’s bid for the 6ft 4in 28-year-old hitman was rejected by the La Liga side before a deal was agreed with Atletico Madrid for around £25m.
Sorloth has scored 151 goals in 420 career games for club and country. The latest of which came in Norway’s 3-0 win over Slovenia last night.
That’s 15 more than Fullkrug has managed and he has three years on the Hammers striker.
Sortloth had his name up in lights last season as he bagged an impressive 26 goals and six assists in 41 games for Villarreal.
That put his on West Ham’s radar but in the end the club opted for Fullkrug.
Now Caught Offside claims Sorloth already regrets not pushing for a return to the Premier League with the Hammers.
After a difficult start to life at Atletico, the report claims he and his agents are looking to reignite a potential move to east London in the January window.
Hammers need another forward regardless
“Atletico Madrid striker Alexander Sorloth and his representatives reportedly looking to secure a move to West Ham in January,” the report states.
“With just one goal and two assists to his name in his debut season under Diego Simeone, he is already being linked with a departure.
“The Londoners signed Niclas Fullkrug in summer after failing with a bid for Jhon Duran but according to the reports Steidten could be looking for another striking force from January.”
If West Ham were to sign Sorloth it would likely be on loan with an option to buy.
The giant forward is always a handful for opposing defenders with his strength and physicality.
The former Palace striker is incredible in the air, is no slouch and has proved he’s a very capable finisher.
He showed at Villarreal what he can do in a team of quality attackers.
West Ham certainly have that in abundance.
Many supporters wanted to see the club sign two forwards in the summer given the dearth of quality striker options at West Ham compared to other Premier League clubs.
Antonio is likely in his last season as he turns 35 in March. Ings will surely leave in January or the summer too.
So even if Fullkrug rediscovers his fitness and is a hit, West Ham still need another forward regardless.
Especially if they have designs on qualifying for Europe.
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