West Ham have today stepped up their search for a new striker after yet another brutal blow with a serious injury to Niclas Fullkrug.
The January transfer window has always been hit and miss for West Ham.
Kalvin Phillips is among the worst signings the Hammers have made in the winter window.
But it’s also been when West Ham have done some of their best ever business.
Jarrod Bowen, Tomas Soucek and Jesse Lingard being just a few recent examples.
West Ham were very much planning to be active in January.
The top priority going into the window was to sign a striker and a midfielder.
A central defender may need to be added to that list too now.
There has been no word on Jean-Clair Todibo’s latest injury.
But Konstantinos Mavropanos and Max Kilman are proving they are not the answer, certainly as a partnership together.
Having lost Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen, the pressure had already piled on majority owner David Sullivan – who has taken back ultimate control of transfers – to sign a new forward.
Now Niclas Fullkrug looks set for another long spell out with a serious hamstring injury.
Injuries pile pressure on West Ham window business
With Crysencio Summerville requiring a scan too, the Hammers simply must reinforce Graham Potter’s squad.
A week before the window opened, West Ham’s owners claimed the club had to raise funds to buy.
“We are up to our FFP maximum,” the senior London Stadium contact told Hammers News at the end of December.
“So unless we increase income or move players there is very little room to do much.
“But never say never.”
West Ham have today issued an exclusive transfer update to Hammers News in light of the latest injury blows.
With a crucial Premier League London derby home double header coming up this week, Potter needs some help.
Now West Ham have launched an underwhelming striker move that suggests money is very tight.
A French journalist claims the Hammers have asked Nice about signing 30-year-old Gaetan Laborde.
If West Ham fans recognise the name, it’s because Laborde has been linked with a move to east London on several occasions in the past, dating all the way back to 2020.
Now well-informed Foot Mercato reporter Sebastien Denis claims West Ham have made a desperate enquiry to Nice about bringing in the forward.
West Ham launch striker move that suggests money is tight
Laborde is good in the air despite being under 6ft.
However he scored just six goals in 38 games for Nice last season and only has three in 15 games so far this term.
According to Denis, Laborde’s £62k per week wages – big money for a Ligue 1 side – are becoming an issue for Nice.
As a result Franck Haise’s side ‘may be receptive to making a deal with West Ham happen’.
The Hammers are already set to pay Nice £32m for Todibo after his long with obligation in the summer.
Word of the move has not gone down well with West Ham fans on social media.
His age and profile is hardly what Hammers supporters envisaged when Tim Steidten and co pledged to rebuild West Ham around young, exciting players.
It does suggest money is very thin on the ground.
Because Laborde’s wages would not be an issue and he would presumably arrived on an initial loan.
It’s some climbdown from rather unrealistic links to the likes of Marcus Rashford and Jonathan David.
But is there anything positive about West Ham’s links to Laborde?
Gaetan Laborde’s style of play
The former France youth international is both versatile and industrious.
He is renowned for his work ethic which will go down well with Hammers fans.
The 30-year-old is also very good technically and tactically. He has to be because he lacks any real pace – something the Hammers are crying out for.
Laborde plays as a striker but, can also be deployed out wide, giving Potter more options.
His combination of physicality and finesse make him an effective hold-up player and a danger in one-on-one encounters close to goal.
But if it’s pace and explosiveness West Ham fans are hoping for, sadly Laborde is not that man.
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