David Moyes faces a big transfer dilemma ahead of his decision over striker number 50 of GSB’s West Ham tenure.
Moyes has long made clear that he wants to make sure he gets West Ham’s next striker signing right.
That search – since Sebastien Haller was sold to Ajax 18 months ago – is now into its third full transfer window.
But now, perhaps more than in any of the previous windows, West Ham finally appear to have firm targets lined up.
STRANGEST Contracts In Football | Anti-Arsenal And Nightclub Clause?!
It seems increasingly likely that striker number 50 of the David Sullivan, David Gold and Karren Brady era will arrive this summer.
Chelsea forward Armando Broja and Sevilla’s Youssef En-Nesyri are emerging as the prime targets.
Other targets, who would be classified as forwards who can play across the frontline, have also been linked such as Emmanuel Dennis and Ismaila Sarr.
It is worth remembering what Moyes told reporters when quizzed about his efforts to sign a striker.
The Scot told the press last summer that he refuses to repeat the seemingly unending cycle of poor striker signings during the GSB tenure – which has seen 49 forwards signed in 12 years with little success (Daily Mail).
A year ago almost to the day Moyes asked fans to accept and respect the club’s change of approach to recruitment as he wants to get striker number 50 right.
“What needs to happen now is that we get away from short-termism,” Moyes said in his first press conference after the transfer window closed (whufc.com, Evening Standard and talkSPORT).
“We can’t just bring somebody in because we have a centre forward out and they’ll help cover us. The picture is completely changing. I want to bring a new West Ham.
“That has to be that we do things correctly. We are trying not to spend excessive money like we have in the past.
“What’s going to happen is that a lot of people don’t like change. Whatever walk of life it is in. The way West Ham need to go is a change (in its recruitment). I’m not going to sign players that – if we’re being honest – who’ve just come in to really appease people and make it (seem) right.”
Fans have been understandably frustrated, particularly as a lack of depth up front can be attributed to West Ham falling agonisingly short of Champions League football the last two seasons.
But it seems the manager may finally have narrowed his striker search down to Broja and En-Nesyri.
Now Moyes faces a big transfer dilemma ahead of his decision over striker number 50 of GSB’s West Ham tenure.
Does he go with the young, raw striker Broja who possesses frightening potential.
Or the more seasoned 25-year-old En-Nesyri who has 195 senior career games in different teams and leagues under his belt – with 57 goals and six assists to show for it.
En-Nesyri’s theatrics when West Ham beat Sevilla in the Europa League last season did the Moroccan’s stock among some fans few favours.
But he was a threat – particularly in the air – and is a deadly finisher on his day.
Both are quick. Broja has immense speed and power while the lithe En-Nesyri has a more elegant stride.
Broja is the bull and En-Nesyri is the gazelle.
It could be argued Broja is more suited to the Premier League.
And many fans would prefer to see the Chelsea man – born in Slough – ditch the Blues for a move to east London.
Moyes could of course opt to go with a different target. But it will be intriguing to see who the Scot settles on this summer.