How high will a new centre-forward rank on West Ham United’s summer wishlist?
In truth, much will depend on what happens regarding the future of Taty Castellanos over the coming weeks or months.
After Callum Wilson confirmed his departure, West Ham United have only the Argentine international, the zero-goal Pablo Felipe, and the unproven Callum Marshall as their centre-forward options.
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According to reports which emerged in the immediate aftermath of relegation, Castellanos has little interest in dropping down into the Championship. A parting of the ways, after only a few months in the capital, feels likely.
And in pursuit of potential replacements, there are few who leap off the page quite like Swansea City talisman Zan Vipotnik.
Swansea’s Zan Vipotnik would be a popular West Ham United signing
Hammers News were informed back in December that the recently-departed head of recruitment Max Hahn had recommended Vipotnik behind the scenes.
Hahn is not the only one who would like to see the 2025/26 Championship Golden Boot winner at the London Stadium.
“We need to start looking at attainable targets!’ a Hammers News reader writes on our TalkingPoints platform. “Vipotnik is who we need, and we should just go and sign him now before another club does!
“He must be our main target!”
While Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney appears destined for the Premier League, another second-tier star is keeping his cards close to his chest.
“For now, I’ve taken a nice break from it all,” Vipotnik told Slovenian publication Dnevnik, putting the transfer rumours to one side for the time being.
“I’ve been on vacation in warm places and have forgotten everything else. Now, it’s the national team’s turn, and then we’ll see.
“The desire is definitely there [to play at a higher level], but a lot of things would have to come together. For now, I’m really happy at Swansea. We’ll see what happens in the summer.”
How much would YOU pay for Swansea striker Zan Vipotnik?
He is the Championship's reigning Golden Boot winner… 👟 ⚽
Vitor Matos, Swansea’s head coach, told the BBC in April that clubs looking to sign his free-scoring striker would have to offer ‘proper money’. What that looks like is anyone’s guess.
But having extended his contract in the spring, it would be a surprise if you were to get much change from £20 million.
Still, with the inevitable departures of Mateus Fernandes, Crysencio Summerville, Castellanos and co likely to boost West Ham’s spending power considerably, signing the Championship’s most potent goalscorer is not out of the question.
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