West Ham’s mission to sign a striker this week has been whittled down to one man after Graham Potter made his choice.
Going into the January transfer window the primary focus at West Ham was to sign a new forward.
That was before the Hammers lost Michail Antonio to a broken leg after his car crash.
And before disastrous summer signing Niclas Fullkrug was once again ruled out for three months through injury.
Not to mention the injuries to other key forward players Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville.
It’s not just the forward line that needs strengthening, though.
Jean-Clair Todibo is out for at least another four to six weeks and Konstantinos Mavropanos has failed to establish himself as a reliable centre-back for West Ham.
With Mavropanos suspended it meant Graham Potter had to play four full-backs in a back five against Villa last time out.
A powerful box-to-box midfielder is also needed for Potter to truly implement his style of play at West Ham.
The club’s £57m bid for Jhon Duran has caused confusion over West Ham’s budget for the window.
West Ham’s owners have insisted they are close to the PSR limit for wages to turnover.
That means most deals the club are looking at have been loans with options or obligations to buy.
West Ham in talks over several deals with week to go
Kyle Macauley has arrived as head of recruitment and Tim Steidten has left the club.
Last night West Ham issued a tantalising transfer statement with one week left in the window.
Several deals are being worked on with striker appearing to very much be the priority.
The club has been in negotiations with Ajax over striker Brian Brobbey.
There have also been repeated talks with Brighton about their forward Evan Ferguson.
Now Potter has told David Sullivan his pick as a revealing photo surfaces of a West Ham striker target.
While Macauley has been reunited with Potter to help identify West Ham’s transfer targets, majority owner Sullivan is the man signing off on deals.
Of some 20 plus forward targets allegedly put to the manager, he has only liked two – Brobbey and Ferguson.
Brobbey flew to London on Friday night as a move edged closer.
But Hammers News exclusively revealed West Ham’s owners had second thoughts on Brobbey because Ajax insisted on an obligation or straight sale.
The Hammers only want to do a loan with an option to buy because they are unconvinced the 22-year-old Dutchman can cut it in the Premier League.
Potter tells Sullivan his West Ham striker pick
Then came word from a leading journalist that Ferguson will choose West Ham over Arsenal this week should the Hammers make their move.
A curveball has also been thrown into the mix with Man United’s Marcus Rashford making a stunning West Ham revelation.
Now according to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook, Potter has made his choice.
The Hammers boss has told Sullivan Ferguson is the man he wants to come in before the window closes at 11pm on Monday February 3rd.
At the start of January, Hammers News exclusively revealed West Ham’s owners admitted interest in Ferguson.
But the Hammers hierarchy also stated a move was complicated by the fact Ferguson was currently injured.
Revealing photo surfaces of Hammers striker target
That remains the case, but word is Potter is willing to pick the man he brought to Brighton in the hope he can get fit with the Hammers in the coming months.
Crook reiterates West Ham believe they have the edge in a move for Ferguson due to the Potter factor.
He states Potter is now ‘eager’ for the reunion.
That tallies with a photo that has emerged of West Ham’s other striker target Brobbey.
The forward has been pictured back in Holland after the impasse between West Ham and Ajax.
And he has been spotted training with his club ahead of their game against Galatasaray this Thursday night.
So it seems Ferguson is going to be the one if West Ham get anyone this week.
Unless another deal opportunity crops up elsewhere, as is often the case in the January window.
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