Many West Ham supporters have been reacting on social media to claims of who our latest top targets are thought to be.
Club insider ExWHUemployee shared early on Sunday that the Hammers are now turning their attention firmly toward Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic and West Bromwich Albion’s Salmon Rondon after Celta Vigo secured their La Liga status for another year.
FC Porto’s Moussa Marega is also said to be on the shortlist of options who could bolster Manuel Pellegrini’s’ attack next season, but is not currently considered as the preferred route or even as the second choice.
Reports in Portugal, though, suggest we are already showing a willingness to trigger his release clause and feel it is now certain he will be moving to East London in the next few months.
Closer to home, reports are also claiming we are making waves in triggering Rondon’s release clause, too, as the uncertainty over Rafa Benitez’s contract is keeping the door open for other clubs to snub Newcastle in the race for his signature.
The club making efforts to sign Marega, or at least the reports of such, would make sense, though, as the Daily Star claimed over the weekend that Mitrovic would be open to staying at Craven Cottage and help Fulham secure an immediate return to the Premier League, even if manager Scott Parker would not stand in his way if he wanted out.
It’s said that sources close to the Serbian forward suggested he would let Fulham’s board decide whether he is sold in the summer or not.
That could mean we face the prospect of targeting the men who began the window as our third and fourth choice targets, but for now, here’s how some of the fanbase reacted to moving on to our second and third choice strikers…
Think its a joke that we left upton park to go to the “NEXT LEVEL” and “COMPETE”. And these are our main targets?. As much as i rate mitrovic he is not next level. Think the board really need to get out if they cant invest in us as we have been sold lies for so long.
— T chambers (@Tchambers2811) May 19, 2019
Would prefer a quicker more dynamic striker to be honest. Badly in need of one!
— Tony (@TonyBaker84) May 19, 2019
Decent squad players, I like Rondon especially. But not better than what we already have
— Rob Long (@roblongwrites) May 19, 2019
Not the next level! Mediocre same standard targets won’t improve our squad at all
— Richie (@RichieTrucker) May 19, 2019
Not really next level for me tbh, yes they will prob get you both 10 goals a season but don’t see it being any better than what we have already. Depends what wages they want? Also can’t see them being sold for under 25m but agree we do need a forward.
— Bez (@WHUBez) May 19, 2019
Mitrovic might push Arnautovic to be better. Sort of similar physically whereas Hernandez and Perez are opposite of Arnie really.
— BayouIronworks (@BayouIronworks) May 19, 2019
I think in comparison to Carroll (never available), Chico (underperforming) & Perez, I think Rondon & Mitrovic could strengthen our squad over a season.
But! To think that we’re going to be a better team with them, is a massive delusion.
We also need CM/LB/RW strengthening.
— andy grout (@andygrout) May 19, 2019
Both good strikers, both would score goals for us. Would personally prefer Mitrovic because he’s slightly younger but would be happy with either.
— Luke Metcalf (@Lukemet02) May 19, 2019
Rondon at £16.5 million is a no brainer would get us goals and appears to keep fit, which is what we need. Nearly everyone had Mitrovic in their fpl dream team so he has got to be worth a shout. Plus I would like to see Shaqiri in the claret and blue.
— malcolm robert brown (@malcolmrbrown53) May 19, 2019
2/2 …
I’ve been long suspicious that we will only balance out the playing staff to stay in the league & to not get relegated prior to G&S selling up.
Nothing will change that thinking until their player transfer and buying history changes and is consistent in improving squad
— DG Claret&Blue (@D_G_00DYWHUFC) May 19, 2019
Neither …Gomez. Not them two, but Rondon is the better one.
— Barry Scott (@HappydaysBarry) May 19, 2019
Either of them ok if we keep Arnautovic as well. If Marko is going we need something better.
— Paul Mitchell ⚒ (@pmitchell1969) May 19, 2019
If you are looking for a player who can play the isolated striker role, Rondon is about as good as it gets. I heavily advocated signing him two summers ago and was widely mocked on Twitter by people I had to block. It depends on Arnie. Is he staying or going?
— Michael Farrow (@MichaelJFarrow) May 20, 2019