There is shock and excitement after West Ham were reportedly offered the chance to sign the Premier League’s fifth top scorer – and it may just have legs.
West Ham dropped the ball by failing to sign two strikers last summer.
That quickly became clear when the one the Hammers did sign, Niclas Fullkrug, spent much of the first three months of the season out injured.
It was no surprise to those among the West Ham fanbase who had questioned the wisdom of signing an ageing striker with a lengthy history of injury problems.
Fullkrug returned only to suffer a new injury in Graham Potter’s first game, missing another three months.
The German’s future was already uncertain ahead of the summer.
Toothless West Ham on the hunt for new strikers
That was before his angry outburst labelling the team s—, which resulted in a rebuke from Potter and being dropped for the next game.
Danny Ings will be released when his contract expires, freeing up £125k on the West Ham wage bill.
A big decision is also due this month on Michail Antonio who, aged 35, is battling back from breaking his leg in four places during that horror car crash.
Antonio is also out of contract but the club will decide whether to hand him a new one-year deal or not soon.
Either way one thing has become abundantly clear under Potter; West Ham don’t score anywhere near enough goals and must sign two new forwards this summer.
In fact take away Jarrod Bowen’s goals this season and the Hammers would have scored less than already relegated Ipswich Town.
Given West Ham are crying out for a striker who can score goals in the Premier League, news emerging from a source very close to David Sullivan yesterday sent shockwaves through the fanbase.
The Hammers have been offered the chance to sign Brentford star Yoane Wissa – and not for the first time.
Wissa has scored a staggering 18 goals for the Bees this season and laid on three assists.
Now his captain admits the Premier League’s fifth top scorer this season could leave a day after being ‘offered’ to West Ham.
According to Claret and Hugh, West Ham were handed a second opportunity to sign Brentford forward Wissa on Tuesday.
West Ham offered Brentford’s Wissa for second time
Wissa, 28, is going into the final year of his Brentford contract and is reportedly refusing to sign a new deal.
The Bees are said to have an option for a further year – but only if Wissa agrees.
With West Ham’s major goalscoring issues and lack of quality and depth up top, fans could be forgiven for thinking David Sullivan and Graham Potter would be tripping over themselves to take up the chance to sign a player like Wissa.
The way Brentford are run, they are clinical when it comes to ensuring they move players on for a profit and at the right time as part of their business model.
So it makes sense that the Bees would be offering Wissa around while he still has some value in the transfer market this summer.
Now Christian Norgaard has spoken out about the situation – 24 hours after Wissa was ‘offered’ to West Ham.
Captain admits Wissa could leave after being ‘offered’ to West Ham
And in a refreshingly honest interview, he admits Wissa could leave the club along with Bryan Mbuemo.
“I think Bryan is likely to go, I don’t know about Wissa yet,” Norgaard told Sky Sports.
“Everyone hopes that he (Wissa) might stay. Either way, I’m happy for the season and am happy for both of them. They deserve it so much.”
Norgaard poured further doubt on Wissa’s future by saying Brentford already have his replacement in the building in the shape of Igor Thiago – who signed last summer but spent the season out injured.
The Bees skipper admits many of his teammates are worried about Wissa and Mbeumo leaving.
But he reassured them that he felt the same when Said Benrahma left for West Ham, joining the likes of Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney in heading out of the club.
“I was one (of the players worrying) when we were losing Ollie Watkins and Said Benrahma, Ivan Toney. So it continues.
“But the club has already brought in Igor Thiago, who is another fantastic character and he will also take the league by storm at some point. When that is, I don’t know but I’m sure he will be ready if Wissa gets his dream move, or Bryan leaves and there will be a change of the offensive players. I think the club is so talented in recruiting and always being two or three steps ahead.”
The problem is the report about West Ham being offered Wissa claims Potter and co have rejected the opportunity, feeling Wissa is ‘too old’.
It is encouraging to hear West Ham are intent on signing a younger profile of player.
But two strikers are needed this summer and bringing in one like Wissa – who has pace, power and proven Premier League experience – is surely a no-brainer.
They say never look a gift horse in the mouth.
It seems Wissa is definitely leaving, so if the report is true and the Hammers have snubbed him then they may have done exactly that.
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