Patience is running out with Pablo Felipe following a 14th West Ham United appearance without finding the net.
Fortunately for Idrissa Gueye, a striker the Hammers looked into signing a few months before Pablo’s £18 million arrival from Gil Vicente, there have been enough promising signs to earn the Udinese youngster some much-needed patience.
West Ham’s interest in Gueye was confirmed by Gianluca Nani, Udinese’s sporting director, shortly after the Serie A outfit had shaken hands with Metz on a £13 million deal.
If not Pablo – who plays up front? 🤔
This TalkingPoints user might have summed up how fans are feeling right now 👇
West Ham United, Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund, he said, were all chasing the Senegalese starlet.
No wonder Udinese considered Gueye’s arrival a bit of a coup. Twenty-one games and zero goals later, the noises coming out of the Zebra’s stable is that the 19-year-old foal will be given a lot more time to earn his stripes.
Former West Ham United target Idrissa Gueye hasn’t scored for Udinese
Head coach Kosta Runjaic – who has Udinese fighting for a top-half finish with three games to go – saw Gueye come agonisingly close to breaking his duck in last month’s 3-3 draw with Lazio.
“Gueye had a good match against Lazio, running a lot, and even had a couple of good chances,” Runjaic said. “But unfortunately, he didn’t find the net. Compared to the away match against Lecce [a 2-1 loss in February], he performed very well.”
According to French publication Foot Mercato, West Ham were ‘desperate’ to land Idrissa Gueye from under the noses of esteemed talent-spotters Dortmund and Man City. Talks with Metz were reportedly ‘progressing well’.
The aforementioned Gianluca Nani felt that Udinese’s own track record with young players proved to be the decisive factor. Gueye, tellingly, has spoken about his desire to follow in the footsteps of one-time Zebrette starlet Alexis Sanchez.
“I’m seeing progress, and that’s thanks to the staff and the team. The initial phase of the season was difficult for me. I’m improving and feeling better; I can contribute.”
Imaging you’re in Nuno’s shoes; Who are you bringing in to face Arsenal? 👞
Eli Junior Kroupi continues to add to West Ham’s pain
This is not the first time West Ham tried and failed to land one of the most exciting attacking talents in France’s lower leagues.
Bournemouth snatched Eli Junior Kroupi from under the Hammers’ nose in early-2025. Taking his tally to 12 goals in 18 Premier League starts in last weekend’s 3-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace, Kroupi needs only one more to record the most prolific season ever by a teenager in the competition.
Gueye, at least, is yet to really rub West Ham’s noses in it.
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