Relegation may have scuppered West Ham United’s chances of landing their more ambitious transfer targets, but a season in the Championship does not necessarily mean there won’t still be some pretty high-profile incomings at the London Stadium.
Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney remains the dream for many, while Swansea striker Zan Vipotnik is another name to keep an eye on over the coming weeks.
Vipotnik caught West Ham United’s eye – more specifically the recently-departed head of recruitment Max Hahn – en route to winning the 2025/26 Golden Boot.
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If the Hammers opt to go down the route of ‘proven’ Championship talent, Hackney and Vipotnik – plus Hull goalkeeper Ivor Pandur and Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis – are likely to feature highly on their summer wishlist.
But while 23 goals in 35 starts were enough to secure Vipotnik the Golden Boot in 2026, the potential availability of his 2025 predecessor is something West Ham must be tempted to look into.
Leeds’ Joel Piroe is a no-brainer for West Ham United
Joel Piroe netted 19 times as Leeds secured the second-tier title last year.
The 26-year-old former PSV prospect would not record even a single goal in the Premier League though, limited to only two top-flight starts following the arrivals of Lucas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
According to claims from TEAMtalk last month, Leeds may now consider offers of around £8 million. Stoke City, Middlesbrough and Birmingham are reported admirers.
But after Callum Wilson confirmed his departure from West Ham, with concerns over Taty Castellanos’ future and with Pablo Felipe yet to hit the target, the chance to sign a Championship Golden Boot winner for a seven-figure sum is at least worthy of consideration.
Speaking in December, Farke described Piroe as a striker with ‘world-class finishing skills’.
However, with Leeds transitioning towards a more direct, physical approach, the stylish but slight Piroe would never really get a look in.
Daniel Farke says Piroe is a ‘world-class’ finisher
A departure feels inevitable, and one suspects a West Ham side desperate to bounce back immediately would suit his ambitions pretty neatly.
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“Joel is a player I really, really love,” Farke said. “I several times about his finishing skills; his finishing skills are world-class. I’m also pretty grateful to have him with his skills and also such a great character.
“We are a promoted side and have to make sure that we play a bit to the strength of the players. Of course, his finishing skills are also outstanding.
“Whenever we chase a game, or we are very dominant, or we need to go, then I’m pretty fortunate also that I can pick him because if I have to trust a player who finishes a situation, of course. Joel is outstanding in these terms.
“[But in the Premier League] sometimes we have a game where we can’t be as dominant as last season.”
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