Brentford striker Neal Maupay is a player who West Ham should be keeping a close eye on in the coming weeks.
The youngster has gone from strength to strength this season and is hot property.
West Ham should consider making a move, either in January or next summer, so that Maupay is Arnautovic’s understudy with the potential to become a long-term replacement.
Maupay’s strengths
Maupay’s main strength is his finishing. The France under-21 international knows where the net is and he scores goals with regularity.
Last season, Maupay returned a respectable haul of 13 goals in 46 games. Considering it was his debut season in England and he spent much of the season as a winger, this is not a bad tally at all.
But the Brentford starlet is now thriving in the centre-forward role in West London.
Maupay has struck 10 league goals already this season, as well as three assists, to top the Championship’s goal scoring charts.
He is quick and nippy with a natural knack of finding space and poaching inside the box.
PL interest
Maupay’s performances have not gone unnoticed. There are some Premier League clubs now alerted to his talents.
Huddersfield Town are lining up a £10m bid, according to The Sun, but surely West Ham can beat the Terriers to Maupay’s signature.
Things to work on
Maupay’s temperament is still questionable and that is something that needs some work.
The 22-year-old was banned for a stamp earlier this season and has been criticised for diving as well.
His physical presence could also be worked on but he is getting better in that department.
Arnautovic understudy
Maupay would be the perfect short-term understudy to Arnautovic at West Ham. The Austrian is the undisputed starting centre-forward but with an ongoing knee injury, he needs rotating.
Javier Hernandez has been out with illness and age is not on his side, while Andy Carroll’s injury record is well documented.
Maupay brings something fresh to the table. And he could be the long-term starting striker for West Ham moving forward.
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