West Ham have agreed on a shortlist of three strikers after the Niclas Fullkrug flop and have new hope over one of them.
The desperate situation regarding summer striker signing Nilcas Fullkrug has forced West Ham into action.
It was claimed this week that Julen Lopetegui is unhappy with technical director Tim Steidten over the club’s striker department.
West Ham have been left with soon-to-be 35-year-old Michail Antonio leading the line yet again.
Antonio, who has just one goal in nine games this season, is not seen as a solution by Lopetegui.
His only back-up is 32-year-old Danny Ings.
Both strikers are out of contract at the end of the season.
It has raised serious questions over why Steidten chose to sign compatriot Fullkrug in the summer.
The 31-year-old arrived from Dortmund for £23.5m and has a lengthy history of serious injuries.
So fans – and Lopetegui according to reports – are angry given Fullkrug will miss his seventh game in a row when West Ham play Man United this weekend.
Worse still Claret and Hugh reported overnight that the Hammers have ‘no idea’ when he might be fit to play again.
West Ham agree stunning shortlist of three strikers
German reporter Florian Plettenberg denied West Ham want to sell Fullkrug in January.
But he stated the earliest Fullkrug might return is Newcastle away at the end of November.
Even that looks unlikely, though, after the latest update from within West Ham.
The situation could have serious ramifications for West Ham’s hopes and aims this season.
Lopetegui was given a brief of qualifying for Europe. But that looks like a pipe dream already.
There is deep regret around West Ham about missing out on Villa star Jhon Duran in the summer.
But now West Ham have agreed on a stunning shortlist of three strikers after the Fullkrug flop and get new hope over Duran.
Reliable journalist Ben Jacobs – who was among the first to break news of moves for Lucas Paqueta and Declan Rice – has revealed the names of the three forwards West Ham are going to try to sign.
He claims not only do West Ham still want to sign Duran, but are confident they might be able to.
Duran, David and Lookman in West Ham’s sights
Jacobs states on Give Me Sport that the Hammers accept a January move is unlikely.
But the club feel they can persuade Villa to sell and Duran to join them as the main man. Even despite the fact he recently signed a contract extension.
West Ham will play on Duran’s continued frustration at being sub or subbed off under Unai Emery.
Should a move for Duran not materialise, though, two other strikers are on the list.
Lille forward Jonathan David is next in line.
The Canadian is out of contract at the end of the season. So there is hope the Hammers may be able to tempt Lille to sell for a knockdown fee in January.
Beyond that Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman is ‘another name discussed internally by the Hammers’.
West Ham’s big problem, though, is European football.
All three players are likely to want it so getting themselves in a position to qualify is crucial.
Without Fullkrug or a top class forward, though, it makes the task all the more difficult.
West Ham have left themselves in a real catch-22 situation.
Their hopes of signing a top striker are being hampered by their handling of the situation in the summer.
Any one of those players would be wonderful for West Ham.
It’s just a crying shame the club didn’t bring one of them in last summer to avoid this mess.
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