West Ham could finally sign an exciting forward they chased for a year after he went on strike to push through a move following ugly scenes at his club.
It is the worst kept secret in football that West Ham are desperately looking to sign at least one striker in the January transfer window.
Nuno Espirito Santo knew after just one game as Hammers boss that he needed to sign a new forward.
German flop forward Niclas Fullkrug will be shipped out by West Ham as soon as the January window opens.
There have been growing concerns at West Ham over Fullkrug’s poor attitude and performance levels.
Any money raised from Fullkrug’s departure will be used towards signing a new striker for Nuno.
West Ham hunt new striker with Fullkrug on way out
West Ham’s board have vowed to back the manager with at least three signings as a forward, midfielder and defender are targeted.
But the absolute priority is a striker with ageing Callum Wilson now West Ham’s only realistic option up front.
Wilson has not let anyone down since arriving as a free agent amid much controversy in the summer.
The soon-to-be 34-year-old’s limitations are clear, though, including the fact he seems unable to last 90 minutes in the eyes of the manager.
West Ham have been linked with a host of forwards ahead of January.
Which position do West Ham need to strengthen the most and why? Who is your dream January signing?
Hammers News revealed West Ham failed with a new bid for longstanding target Marcos Leonardo but may try again for the Brazilian, who is at Al Hilal.
Man United’s Joshua Zirkzee, Endrick, Chris Wood, Gabriel Jesus, Franculino Dju and Santiago Gimenez have all been linked with moves to the London Stadium.
There has even been an astonishing claim about West Ham eyeing a sensational move for a top Spanish talent.
Sometimes in life, though, opportunities arise at the perfect time and that may have just happened for the Hammers.
Because a forward West Ham chased for a year has gone on strike to force a move and he can be the club’s saviour.
Forward West Ham chased for a year goes on strike to force move
The Irons are fighting for their Premier League lives and look set to be in a battle with four other clubs to avoid being one of the three teams relegated.
It is already looking like three from Wolves, Burnley, Leeds, Forest and West Ham.
The Hammers are sorely lacking pace, power and dynamism up front.
That was brutally exposed against Liverpool with West Ham failing to register a single shot on target in the dull 2-0 defeat.
Now their prayers could be answered after a very unsavoury incident unfolded at a club West Ham have already done big business with this year.
The Hammers tracked explosive striker Terem Moffi for a year over two transfer windows before eventually missing out to Nice.
Now a shocking development could finally open the door to the deal that transforms Nuno’s team and saves the season.
West Ham tried to sign Nigerian striker Moffi from Lorient back in 2023 but lost out to Nice, from whom the Hammers signed Jean-Clair Todibo for £32m in the summer.
Irons fans were excited at the prospect of signing the now 26-year-old who has the pace, strength and athleticism the team has been crying out for.
Despite a £20m plus offer from West Ham, Lorient bowed to the player’s wishes to stay in France as he joined Nice instead.
Moffi can be West Ham’s saviour after violent attack
Lorient’s president admitted they wanted to sell Moffi to West Ham as he criticised Nice’s conduct in hijacking the deal.
Moffi was then linked with the Hammers again the following summer but remained at Nice, where he has scored 21 goals and laid on five assists in two-and-a-half seasons.
Now Moffi could be available for West Ham to sign – perhaps even on a free transfer – after he was beaten and spat at by his own so-called supporters during a violent fan ambush at the club’s training ground.
After Nice lost 3-1 at Moffi’s old club Lorient, around 400 fans were waiting for them at their training ground.
Moffi and teammate Jeremie Boga were both targeted due to recent incidents.
Moffi had been shown laughing with Lorient president Loic Fery on French TV coverage of the defeat, which was Nice’s sixth in a row in all competitions.
Moffi was reportedly hit, kicked, and spat at, according to reports in a story which has rocked French football and made national news here in the UK too.
As reported by RMC Sport, Moffi has now gone on sick leave and has made it clear he will never play for Nice again.
It is also reported that Moffi is already actively looking to leave the club.
FIFA regulations could even mean that Moffi is able to terminate his contract due to not feeling safe in his workplace.
That would mean he may even be available on a free transfer, making him even more desirable to West Ham.
Moffi has untapped potential to be a clinical, game-changing presence up front.
This could be a sliding doors moment for him and West Ham, the perfect match coming together at the perfect time due to unprecedented circumstances.
It will certainly be one to watch over the coming weeks.
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