Reported West Ham striker target Anthony Martial has handed in a transfer request at Manchester United and wants to move in January.
It is one of the the worst kept secrets in football that West Ham need – and want – another striker.
Manager David Moyes is said to have held talks with SEVEN different strikers over the summer but to no avail.
And the Hammers have been linked with a move for Manchester United outcast Martial over the last six months (The Daily Star).
Michail Antonio has been carrying the weight of goalscoring expectation for West Ham for the best part of two years since being converted to a striker by Moyes.
Antonio has not scored since West Ham beat Spurs back in October and there have been times – this season and last – where the massive gamble of having a solitary striker in their squad has cost the Hammers.
Losing Antonio for spells last season ultimately cost West Ham a Champions League place as they missed out by a solitary win.
West Ham will not want history to repeat itself.
After the arrival of Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky at West Ham, expectations are high going into the January window.
It is easy to see why too. After West Ham’s best ever start to a Premier League season, the club sits fourth in the Premier League, in the last 16 of the Europa League and one game away from a Carabao Cup semi-final.
If now is not the time to back the manager and invest to give West Ham that extra push – and fill gaping gaps in the squad – then when is?
Well now one of his reported targets Martial has handed in a transfer request at Man United.
Reported West Ham striker target Anthony Martial hands in transfer request and wants January move says agent
And his agent has revealed he wants to move in January in a bid for more game time elsewhere.
The Frenchman has been frozen out at Man United this season, making just two starts in 15 Premier League games and coming off the bench in five.
The 26-year-old has only played 67 minutes of United’s Champions League campaign too, with his sole start in the competition coming in their away win against Villarreal.
Now Martial’s agent Philippe Lamboley has revealed that his client wants out of Old Trafford next month (Sky Sports News, BBC Sport, Daily Mail).
“Anthony wishes to leave the club in January,” Lamboley told Sky Sports.
“He just needs to play.
“He doesn’t want to stay in January and I will speak to the club soon.”
This could be huge news for West Ham and Moyes if the links with Martial are accurate.
When speculation about West Ham’s interest in the Man United benchwarmer was first mooted, many fans scoffed.
But if, as his agent says, he just wants to go to a club where he will get more game time then you never know, West Ham could be in with a shout.
There is of course the issue that Man United may not be keen to sell to a direct rival in the race for a Champions League spot.
Imagine the reaction of Man United fans if Martial was sold to West Ham only to reignite and fire the Hammers into the top four ahead of the Red Devils?
There would also be question marks over whether he is the kind of character Moyes wants at the club. But there is no doubting Martial’s quality on his day.
It will certainly be interesting to see how this one develops.
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