West Ham and the potential of signing strikers in the summer is an idea that will not end, despite the next transfer window being more than 100 days away.
It will, unfortunately, be some time yet before the Irons are no longer linked with potential new centre-forwards, as the club still have to decide what to do with those already at the London Stadium.
All four have been utilised at some stage of the season, but not one has a guaranteed future in Stratford.
That’s why the debate refuses to go away, and Irons supporters on the KUMB forum have been discussing who we should target – or keep – for next season.
The latest debate was sparked by FAH_1973, when they posted: “We are likely going to need to sign three strikers in the summer if as expected Arnie, Chica and Perez are sold and Carroll released.
“Not sure how much we will recoup for those three – but the mooted budget of £25million would get us two and a half Jordan Hugill’s!”
Comparing the budget to Hugill is an interesting take, but we must hope that the club does not see it that way and they target more proven top-flight talents rather than the David Moyes flop.
For now, though, here’s where the debate sits on the KUMB forum…
“Good thing we still own 1 Jordan Hugill then! That saves us a bit.” – EastleighHammer16 (March 13, 15:32)
“Have caught a couple of Atlanta games since Christmas – notable from a Zapata point of view was the one where he got four against Frosinone. I honestly thought that he was teed up a lot to score in that game, and just poaching in the right place – headers, first time shots, that sort of thing. Was more impressed with Illicic and Gomez playing around him, if I’m being completely honest about it.” – YorksHammer (March 13, 16:40)
“There are some easy solutions. Gomez’s buyout clause drops to €25 million if Celta Vigo are relegated. Milan are looking to shift Franck Kessie and Andre Silva for a combined €60 to €65 million. That is €85 to €90 million (or £75million) for two top strikers who are still getting better and will only be 23 at the start of the season, and a borderline world class 23-year-old box to box midfielder.” – Peaches (March 13, 16:41)
“For me, Zapata’s a mobile yet big and strong forward who can hold up play, a good dribbler of the ball too. He’s got everything you’d want from a modern day striker, just needs to improve his consistency, although he’s doing that this season. He scores a wide range of goals too, headers, tap-ins, volleys, long-range strikes with power and placement” – Patito (March 13, 18:24)
“If Maxi Gomez release clause drops to €25m due to Celta Vigo relegation I doubt that means we can get him for €25m. It more likely means loads more clubs competing for him and (perversely) higher chance we actually don’t get him…. IMO” – Hammer1975 (March 13, 18:37)
“Silva will probably go but for 30 mil he is beyond a gamble, started well at Sevilla then tailed off, think he has only actually scored in about six league games.” – Fmgod (March 13, 19:37)