Tim Steidten goes back to South America to solve West Ham’s never-ending problem

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The January transfer window is fast approaching and Tim Steidten is under pressure to solve some big problems at West Ham.

The Hammers’ technical director may have to get creative or find a bargain or two.

West Ham will be looking to do business in the winter window.

Goodness knows the team needs it.

Despite what looked a fantastic summer splurge, there are glaring deficiencies in the team.

A stodgy midfield comprising a hodge podge of players who don’t complement each other at all is perhaps the biggest issue facing Julen Lopetegui.

There is zero pace and power and a lack of creativity in the ranks.

Once again West Ham have failed to get the striker situation right either.

This is where opinion is divided over where the blame lay.

Steidten elected to spread £45m of his budget over two signings – Luis Guilherme and Niclas Fullkrug – rather than use it all to sign Jhon Duran.

Steidten goes back to South America to solve West Ham problem

With hindsight it is one of the worst transfer calls in West Ham’s modern history. And there have been some bad ones.

You can see Steidten’s thought process. One for the future and one for the here and now.

But it hasn’t worked so far. Fullkrug made three substitute league appearances picking up an injury which has seen him miss over two months and counting.

Guilherme has barely kicked a ball for the Hammers.

It was imperative West Ham got the striker situation right in the summer.

David Moyes elected not to replace Gianluca Scamacca the summer before.

That has left Lopetegui relying on a three-man strike force with a combined age of nearly 98.

Two of them, Michail Antonio and Danny Ings, are out of contract in the summer.

So it’s clear that needs to be addressed. Especially with no timeframe on Fullkrug’s return.

Well now Steidten is going back to South America to solve West Ham’s never-ending problem.

That’s according to new reports ahead of the January window.

As Hammers fans will be well aware, Steidten spent much of the last two summers in Brazil working on deals.

A move for Brazil defender Fabricio Bruno fell through at the last moment.

Corinthians wanted more than West Ham were willing to pay for Wesley Gassova.

Hammers want solution for never-ending issue on a silver Plata

In the end an on-off deal for Palmeiras “sensation” Guilherme was sealed at around £20m.

With Fullkrug’s injury West Ham are well short up front.

Things are so desperate fans now believe Ings is the best of their options to lead the line.

It won’t be for long if a new move being mooted comes off, though.

The new name in the frame is Gonzalo Plata.

The 24-year-old Ecuadorian striker is being linked with a move to the London Stadium by sources in Spain and a site with close ties to co-owner David Sullivan, Claret and Hugh.

Interestingly Plata was signed by the man West Ham wanted as their replacement for Moyes – Ruben Amorim.

He spent two years with Sporting before heading to Valladolid but he has club hopped every year since, first to Al Sadd in Qatar and then Flamengo in Brazil.

Plata’s goal record is nothing to write home about – with just 24 in 151 senior club games.

But he does have nine in 39 matches for Ecuador.

It should be noted that Plata has often been used as a winger, though.

It’s being claimed the Hammers want to bring Plata back to Europe after being impressed with his ‘decisive performances’ for Flamengo.

The forward is blessed with great strength and pace and it is felt his natural position is as a striker.

One look at highlight reels on YouTube shows he is adept at finishing when he gets in the box.

Lines of communication are already established between Steidten and Flamengo.

There are no lingering issues from the Bruno saga because it was the player who decided not to join West Ham in the end.