The headlines this morning are full of Premier League clubs competing for the same small pool of talent: Pity West Ham’s recruiters, sifting their data and identifying targets with Bournemouth, Spurs, Newcastle et al – depending on who you read- all breathing down their necks.
‘Newcastle United leading the race to sign Baris Alper Yilmaz’:Read this mornings headlines: ‘Chelsea trying to hijack a move for Stefanos Tsimas’ – plus of course ‘Bournemouth waiting on decision for Evan Ferguson’. And yesterday “Leicester City interested in loan deal for André Silva”.
It’s getting congested out there as everyone searches for a front man who will give their new club ten goals between January and the end of the season in May.
One article which seemed to slip by under the radar at the weekend with the noise surrounding the Crystal Palace defeat was Dharmesh Sheth’s tip relayed in givemesport.com, suggesting The Hammers are looking at 23 year old Nice forward Evann Guessand, who, with eight goals in 17 this season is seen as a good option to carry the attack at London Stadium. (Interestingly Sheth, goes onto mention André Silva as their ‘backup’ option too).
Guessand is tied to a four year deal at Nice so he won’t come cheap, although he is what I’d label as ‘Hammers Money’ . Transfermarkt claim just €20 million but normally you can add 50% to that: Always something of a red flag for any Hammers’ deal in January as West Ham do have a history of – erm – lowballing clubs, with predictable results.
We can only hope Graham Potter’s growing influence at the club may hold some sway as there is no doubt that the club urgently need reinforcements at the front since the cupboard is bare.
The one striker still standing, Danny Ings, is not even started by Graham Potter such is his lack of faith in the championship-quality player.
We can but hope one of these ‘reports’ materialises into formal discussions and a deal being brokered. Having endured the toothless display against Palace at the weekend, it is abundantly clear that urgent action is needed even to secure a mid table finish this season.
