West Ham are on the hunt for a new striker this summer and have been linked with a plethora of targets identified by Graham Potter and Kyle Macaulay.
Signing at least one new forward has been a top priority for Graham Potter since he arrived at West Ham in January.
The Hammers boss brought Evan Ferguson in on loan but he became the latest striker to flop in east London.
West Ham’s seemingly perennial search for a new forward is becoming very acute this summer transfer window.
While no great loss, Danny Ings has been released – shedding his ridiculous £500k per month salary from West Ham’s books.
West Ham’s striker search becomes ever more acute
Ferguson was sent back to Brighton having failed to register a shot on target never mind a goal in his five months with the Hammers.
Michail Antonio has been officially released following the expiration of his contract after a memorable 10-year spell in east London.
The 35-year-old has battled back from breaking his leg in four places in that horrific car crash in December and represented Jamaica in cameos last month.
But it has been claimed talks between West Ham and Antonio have hit an impasse – although no official announcement has been made by either party as yet.
That leaves Niclas Fullkrug as West Ham’s last striker standing.
However, the Hammers are open to selling the ageing and injury-prone German after one season.
The 32-year-old Germany international missed two thirds of his debut campaign through two serious injuries.
And after a very public disagreement over his outspoken assessment of the team, Potter made it clear to Fullkrug he sees him as a back-up striker at best for West Ham.
In a World Cup year, that clearly won’t sit well with Fullkrug – who is said to be wanted by the likes of Juventus and Italian clubs.
Should Antonio officially depart and Fullkrug be sold, that leaves Potter with no senior strikers.
Young hotshot Daniel Cummings has arrived on a free from Celtic.
West Ham striker target’s move finally gets the ‘here we go’
He is expected to be part of Potter’s first team squad next season as long as the 19-year-old proves he is up to the standard in pre-season. But West Ham stated Cummings will initially train with the Under 21s to start off with this summer.
Potter and head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay have a lengthy target list when it comes to forwards.
Evann Guessand, Emanuel Emegha, Mathias Kvistgaarden and a Euro Under 21 target man are West Ham targets.
One top name who has been in and out of the frame was among the first linked with the club when Potter took over – sparking months of incessant speculation.
Now that striker move finally gets the ‘here we go’ to put the latest West Ham transfer saga to bed at long last.
Potter’s big hope coming into the summer transfer window was that striker Jonathan David could be persuaded to join the Hammers.
West Ham’s interest in David actually dates all the way back to 2021.
It has been claimed that David Moyes rejected the chance to bring David to West Ham for just £20m in the summer of 2023.
Potter felt differently, telling West Ham’s owners to try and bring him David and his Lille teammate Angel Gomes on free transfers in his bid to transform the team.
Given his goal record, age and versatility, signing the Canada striker on a free always looked highly ambitious for West Ham – especially with no European football to offer.
It was reported Potter felt the Hammers might be able to lure him with London life, big wages, Premier League football and the guarantee of being a starter week in, week out – something he won’t necessarily get at many of Europe’s elite clubs who have also been on his tail.
West Ham allegedly hosted David’s agents at the London Stadium on more than one occasion as part of a charm offensive to try lure him to the club.
West Ham’s Jonathan David saga put to bed once and for all
Now the David pipedream is well and truly over for West Ham, though.
Because Fabrizio Romano has given his trademark ‘here we go’ to a deal for David to join Italian giants Juventus.
The reporter states a medical will follow with contracts to be signed soon.
“Jonathan David to Juventus, here we go!” Romano said.
“Verbal agreement reached overnight on every detail with Canadian striker.
“Long term deal agreed and Jonathan David’s set to travel for medical tests, formal steps to follow.
“Contracts to be checked and signed soon.”
Just over a month ago, the striker was reported to have officially and politely rejected the offer from the Hammers.
But David did so with a message for West Ham fans about project Potter according to a prominent journalist.
With the Jhon Duran and David sagas over, West Ham can now focus on landing an exciting young forward who can help Potter turn the tide next season.
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