West Ham United are keen to sign Lille attacker Jonathan Ikone in January according to a report from Calciomercato.
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Hammers boss David Moyes is expected to be a busy man in the transfer market in January.
The Scot should be prioritising the signing of a top-class centre-forward to provide competition and cover for Michail Antonio.
It will be interesting to see what route Moyes takes though. He has made it clear that the type of striker he wants isn’t easy to find with the budget he has available to him.
Perhaps the West Ham boss will do what he does best – sign an attacking midfielder or winger and convert them into a central striker.
It seems as though that could very well be the Hammers chief’s plan.
West Ham tracking Jonathan Ikone
The 23-year-old Lille ace is on the Hammers’ radar according to a report from Calciomercato.
Ikone can play as a second striker, on either wing or even as an auxiliary centre-forward.
The Frenchman bagged seven goals and seven assists in 48 games for Lille last term (Transfermarkt).
His fine form last season attracted the likes of Manchester United and Everton with Lille thought to be demanding around £60 million for his signature (LeFoot).
Ikone has experienced somewhat of a dip in form this season though, with just two goals and no assists to his name in 17 games.
He is out of contract with Lille in the summer of 2023, so he could be available for as little as £21 million in January or the summer (In News 24).
Whilst that represents a huge price reduction, we think that West Ham should avoid a move for Ikone.
The numbers he has posted this season really aren’t good enough for an attacker.
We think it would be better for Moyes to sign an out and out striker – someone proven at the very highest level with a goal record of around one in two or better.
Ikone is a decent player. In fact, he can be a very good player when he’s at his best.
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The Frenchman just isn’t the man for the job at West Ham. Whether David Moyes agrees with that notion, however, remains to be seen.
And if he doesn’t, we will trust the Scot’s judgement.
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