West Ham intend to be active during the January transfer window with a striker and midfielders top of the agenda.
Hammers News and other outlets have already reported that is West Ham’s plan for the January transfer window.
Now a Telegraph journalist has named the players the club are looking at.
Niclas Fullkrug has started to show what he can do of late.
But West Ham clearly cannot solely rely on an injury-prone forward who turns 32 this season.
While Fullkrug has been better of late, he still lacks pace and the explosiveness of other top strikers at West Ham’s Premier League rivals.
If the Hammers want to compete for the European spots that is what is needed.
And at the very least all clubs need different options up front.
Having spent three months out injured already, West Ham cannot afford to go the rest of the season without bringing in a new striker.
While few believe the Hammers could find themselves in a relegation battle, several teams below have started showing form and picking up points.
Julen Lopetegui and Tim Steidten were supposed to have the Irons competing for the European spots.
Instead they find themselves 14th, closer to the bottom three and the top seven.
Journalist names West Ham’s five-player January hit-list
Addressing clear issues in West Ham’s midfield is just as pressing as the striker problem, though.
The team lacks pace, power and mobility in the middle of the park.
Edson Alvarez’s performances have ben nothing short of embarrassing.
Guido Rodriguez looks incapable of adapting to the fast pace of the English game and reportedly already wants out of West Ham.
Lucas Paqueta’s form has fallen off a cliff in the last year.
Carlos Soler has blown hot and cold and is only on loan from PSG for the season.
Tomas Soucek is ever-reliable but Lopetegui is failing to get the best out of his attributes.
West Ham’s midfield offers little protection to the defence and provides almost no service to the forward line.
Fullkrug was having to drop deep to get involved with the play at Man City.
West Ham have made it clear they are on the lookout for deal this month.
But the club will be restricted in how much they can do due to PSR.
Sales or fresh investment is needed to make room for new arrivals according to the club.
The Hammers do have a number of active targets, though.
Major snag with reporter’s claim regarding Ferguson
A journalist has named West Ham’s five-player January hit-list but there’s a major snag.
According to Matt Law of the Telegraph, the east Londoners are eyeing three forwards and two midfielders – all currently playing in England.
Law claims Brighton striker Evan Ferguson, Middlesbrough’s Emmanuel Latte Lath and Wolves’ Hwang Hee-chan are the forwards in West Ham’s sights.
The journalist also claims West Ham would like to sign a new midfielder this month with Chelsea pair Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Carney Chukwuemeka on the club’s radar.
West Ham fans will already have been well aware of the club’s interested in all but one of those players.
Hee-chan is a new name on the list.
But there’s a big problem with Law’s report.
West Ham have already spoken about their move for Ferguson exclusively to Hammers News.
The Hammers did indeed enquire about signing the Irishman.
But the club revealed Ferguson is battling an ongoing injury concern which the Hammers are clearly not willing to take any chances on.
Hee-chan suits West Ham’s needs best
West Ham also said they don’t think ‘Boro will sell Latte Lath while they are chasing promotion.
Hee-chan looks like he might be the best bet given his attributes and what West Ham need in the absence of Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen.
Whether Wolves will sell remains to be seen. Especially as the 28-year-old South Korean star has scored twice under new boss Vítor Pereira already.
Interestingly, Hee-chan was close to joining West Ham three years ago from RB Leipzig before his move to Wolves.
West Ham fans will already be well aware of the links to Chukwuemeka and Dewsbury-Hall too.
So there’s nothing new there.
We reported at the weekend that Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has told Chukwuemeka he can leave this month amid interest from West Ham.
Graeme Bailey provided a detailed update on West Ham’s striker plans for the January window when speaking to Hammers News last month.
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