Hammers boss David Moyes may have a future England strike partnership right under his nose at West Ham United.
West Ham fans are still angry the club failed to make any signings in the January transfer window.
With the club fighting on three fronts during the run in and clear gaps in the squad, Hammers supporters feel it could prove to be a massive opportunity missed.
Particularly given the desperate need for another striker with Michail Antonio the only senior forward in the West Ham squad.
And that fact is only made all the more frustrating given Antonio’s continued goal drought in the Premier League.
Antonio has scored just once in the Prem this year – in the New Year’s Day win over Palace. He looked something like his best with an assist and excellent all round display in the memorable Europa League last 16 win second leg triumph over Sevilla before the international break.
But Antonio was hooked 10 minutes into the second half of the 3-1 defeat to Spurs that followed and his performance was criticised by Moyes after the game.
It has now been nearly three windows since West Ham sold Sebastien Haller to Ajax.
And signing at least one striker this summer will surely be Moyes’s top priority.
But the future for West Ham in that position looks like it could be very rosy indeed.
Because Moyes may have a future England strike partnership right under his nose at West Ham in the shape of Sonny Perkins and Divin Mubama.
West Ham fans have already had a glimpse of young forward Perkins in the first team.
And both he and fellow West Ham academy star Mubama have showed they could have promising futures with goals for England during the international break.
Perkins played a starring role for England U18s as they fought back from three goals down against Denmark to secure a 3-3 draw on Monday.
Just a few days ago, Perkins was on the bench watching his West Ham teammate Mubama also score for the Under 18s in a 3-2 win over Sweden.
Perkins looked sharp as he pounced on a cut-back into the box and excellently swept it home to pull England back into the game with his third goal in seven appearances for the Under 18s.
On Friday Mubama showed why West Ham were so desperate to tie him down to a pro contract when he scored the winning goal for England U18s in a thrilling 3-2 win over Sweden.
West Ham managed to tie Mubama down earlier this season (whufc.com). And he showed his talent as he rifled home his second international goal for the Under 18s, having netted his first against Portugal at the end of last year.
The 17-year-old fired home a low shot for the Young Lions on 74 minutes, stealing possession back for his national side before netting to re-establish a two-goal advantage.
Mubama and Perkins look set to be strike partners now as they move up the England age groups.
That could be replicated at club level too for the Under 23s as Mubama is expected to graduate to the brink of the first team as soon as next season.
So it is entirely plausible that Moyes could go from a dearth of strikers to potentially having a future England strike partnership right under his nose at West Ham.
The Scot takes a great interest in the young players coming through. He has already blooded Perkins and will be well aware of Mubama’s talent too.
West Ham will still need to bring in a senior striker in the summer.
But as Antonio reaches the final years of his career the future certainly looks bright for the Hammers on the striker front.