West Ham invested heavily in their squad during the summer transfer window but, while the likes of Lukasz Fabianski, Issa Diop and Felipe Anderson have shone, the same cannot be said for some of their fellow recruits.
Lucas Perez has struggled to make an impact since moving across the Premier League from Arsenal and the Spaniard, who earns a hefty £80k-a-week according to Spotrac, faces an uncertain future at the London Stadium.
With the forward ranks in east London already appearing rather short, with Javier Hernandez inconsistent and Andy Carroll often on the sidelines through injury, a departure for Perez would likely lead to Manuel Pellegrini dipping into the market once again.
According to The Daily Star (9th January, page 43), West Ham have identified Liverpool striker Divock Origi as the ideal replacement for Perez if they manage to offload the 30-year-old during the mid-season transfer window.
A move for Origi, who has caught the eye in recent weeks after scoring a dramatic winner in the Merseyside derby against Everton and finding the net again in the Reds FA Cup defeat to Wolves, would likely be a loan until the end of the season.
However, Origi’s long-term future at Anfield is also under doubt and a temporary deal could allow the Hammers to put themselves at the front of the queue for a permanent deal further down the line.
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Pellegrini looking to bolster West Ham defence with 21-cap international
