Anyone watching the ‘highlights’ such as they were yesterday will have been struck immediately by the contrast between West Ham and Crystal Palace. The Hammers, toothless up front without a designated striker, looked unlikely to trouble Dean Henderson. The Eagles, however, had big front runner Jean-Phillipe Mateta who blew West Ham away with one unchallenged finish and a late penalty.
West Ham need a Michail Antonio clone. And Fast. No Fullkrug, no emergency striker Bowen, nobody to hold the ball up and run the channels.
Awoniyi has a major injury issue – So best avoided by West Ham
Hence the recent interest in Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi – who has not had much game time with Chris Woods’ excellent form this season. Signed for £17.5 million by the Nottingham side, it is now claimed – however much truth there is behind this story we’ll find out shortly – via theSUN.ng which is not a source I am used to quoting – that Nottingham Forest have named their price.
Forest are, apparently: “only willing to accept a loan with an obligation to buy or a straight purchase in the region of £30 million for Awoniyi.” Which, for a striker who has a major injury issue, is high-risk and would deter West Ham following their Fullkrug experience: “A damaging groin injury last season saw him out for 18 games, and a recurrence of the same saw him miss another 14 games, meaning Awoniyi has missed 32 games for The Reds in the past year.”
Clearly Forest would like to keep hold of their striker in January – West Ham don’t need the threat of another lame striker at around £30 million – so one to avoid.
The Same report claims West Ham have been pushed towards RB Leipzig centre-forward, Andre Silva. I think I saw Silva described as a ‘last option’, with just two weeks to run until the window closes, it won’t be long before it ends up being Silva or nothing for Potter in January.
