West Ham’s striker search has taken a fresh twist after a major double update delivered mixed news for Hammers boss Nuno Espirito Santo.
West Ham have confirmed they are pushing to make signings in the January transfer window.
Nuno Espirito Santo will be backed and the West Ham board have confirmed to Hammers News that both permanent and loan signings are being identified.
The Hammers sit in the bottom three approaching the halfway stage of the Premier League season.
There has been a marked improvement overall since Nuno took over from the hapless Graham Potter.
West Ham looking at permanent and loan signings for Nuno
West Ham have taken nine points from the last six games but still sit in the bottom three.
It is looking like two teams from four to follow Wolves down into the Championship with West Ham, Burnley, Nottingham Forest and Leeds battling to avoid the drop.
West Ham face their kindest run of fixtures of the season after Christmas Day.
Six of their eight games from December 27th onwards would be seen as “winnable” so it could define whether the club remains in the top flight.
The January window is the last chance for Nuno to bring in extra bodies to make the difference.
Potter went on record over the summer to say he did not feel West Ham needed to spend money on signing a new striker.
He then went and pushed for £15m goalkeeper Mads Hermansen in a highly questionable move given the priorities elsewhere in the team.
While Callum Wilson has been good value on a free transfer, West Ham have been paying the price ever since with the lack of striker options a major issue.
Nuno told West Ham’s board he needed a new striker after just one game in charge.
Hammers want at least one striker with Fullkrug on his way
Niclas Fullkrug will be shipped out in January and his desire to leave has been obvious in his lacklustre appearances of late.
The Hammers have been linked with a long list of strikers from Midtjylland’s Franculino Dju to Man United’s Joshua Zirkzee and Cruzeiro’s Kaio Jorge.
With the transfer window edging closer, the club have been pushing hard on multiple fronts to secure a new forward — but the latest developments suggest that while one avenue is opening up, another is becoming more complicated.
Nuno and his super-agent Jorge Mendes will play a leading role in recruitment as the Hammers look to make signings who can help save their season.
Two forwards who could potentially be game-changers for the Irons – and are very much on the club’s radar – are Ivan Toney and Promise David.
Now a major update on West Ham’s striker hunt brings mixed news on two targets as the window nears.
The first big update is regarding Toney.
Football reporter Alan Nixon claimed two months ago that West Ham were ‘working on’ a potential deal for Toney amid competition from Spurs.
In a recent Hammers News poll, our readers named Toney as their clear preference for a January striker signing.
Why do you think Niclas Fullkrug failed?
The ex Brentford striker has been consistently linked with a move to the London Stadium, ever since he was at Peterborough.
Hammers News revealed in October that Toney was in no rush to leave Saudi Arabia.
But his latest omission from Thomas Tuchel’s England squad may have changed Toney’s mind as the reality of missing out on successive World Cups becomes a clear possibility.
Turning 30 in March, this is likely Toney’s last chance of playing for England at a World Cup.
Toney was back in London and visited ex Hammers skipper Declan Rice at the weekend.
Major update on West Ham striker hunt brings some Promise
It proved to be an eventful one for the forward, who was arrested after an altercation at a bar, as reported by the likes of The Sun.
Whether the incident would influence West Ham’s desire to bring Toney to the London Stadium may be irrelevant, though.
In a new update from the journalist who first broke news of West Ham’s January move for Toney, it is claimed the chances of a return to the Premier League in the window may be dashed by his club Al Ahli.
According to an Alan Nixon exclusive on his Partreon, the Saudi side cannot spend any money on signing a replacement if they let Toney leave.
Nixon once again confirmed the interest of West Ham and Spurs in either a permanent or loan deal.
Nixon says ‘Saudi insiders’ have revealed Al Ahli’s owners PIF cannot then spend on a new goalscorer due to ‘strict rules that prevent further spending’.
And, Nixon says, a loan does not generate enough cash to make a difference.
There is better news for West Ham on another striker target, though.
Rob Dorsett is one of Sky Sports’ top transfer reporters.
He was the first to call West Ham agreements to sign Hermansen and Mateus Fernandes in the summer.
Now Dorsett has confirmed West Ham’s interest in getting a deal done for giant Canadian forward David.
But, excitingly, the reporter says the Hammers have lots of irons in the fire.
Dorsett has also reiterated Fullkrug’s impending departure, with Wolfsburg the most likely destination for the German.
Ivan Toney can save West Ham from relegation. Are there any better options this January?
“West Ham are interested in a possible deal for striker Promise David at Belgium side Union Saint-Gilloise,” Dorsett said.
“(David has) nine goals for club and country this season, he is one of several options.
“Striker (is the) number one priority in January, with Fullkrug expected to leave- but Frankfurt interest in him has waned. Wolfsburg still keen.”
Dorsett’s claim adds credibility to a story which emerged last week claiming West Ham are closing on an agreement to sign David.
Hulking 6ft 5in 24-year-old striker David has racked up 62 goals in the last three-and-a-bit seasons.
Importantly he would be attainable for West Ham, who may struggle to convince more proven talents to sign up for a relegation battle.
The January window is the last chance saloon for West Ham United. They cannot afford to get it wrong.
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