Truth about West Ham free agent striker signing as player tipped for exit by Friday

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West Ham have been linked with a number of free agent signings before the Premier League’s deadline this weekend.

The Hammers signed nine players in the summer window but the club have been actively looking at the free agent market too.

Before joining Roma, defenders Mario Hermoso and Mats Hummels were both linked with moves to West Ham.

Joel Matip and John Egan were also linked with a free transfer move to the London Stadium.

Ex Sheffield United central defender Egan even played a behind-closed-doors friendly for West Ham against Dagenham and Redbridge.

Many questioned whether West Ham should be signing players the wrong side of 30 on free transfers as squad fillers. Especially given many of them have a history of injury problems.

Fullkrug scare exposes West Ham’s lack of depth up front

The Hammers decided against Egan and he has joined Burnley.

Then disaster seemed to have struck West Ham with news of an injury to Niclas Fullkrug on international duty.

Supporters were bemoaning the ‘West Ham striker curse’ with the club fearing he would be out for at least three weeks.

Hammers insider Sean Whetstone even suggested Fullkrug may face months out if his prognosis of Tendonitis was confirmed.

The news brought to the fore fears over West Ham’s lack of quality in depth up front.

Player tipped for West Ham exit by Friday

It is the one area of the squad supporters do not feel was properly addressed during the transfer window.

Michail Antonio’s career is on the decline and he turns 35 this season. Danny Ings has been a flop since signing and is 32 himself.

So adding a 31-year-old – albeit proven top level striker – to the mix has been seen as questionable. Especially given Fullkrug’s history of injury problems.

‘We should have signed Jhon Duran’ was the cry from many Hammers fans on social media when the news about Fullkrug broke.

And it instantly saw the club linked with a number free agent strikers such as Memphis Depay.

There was good news about Fullkrug earlier today, but he will still miss Saturday’s game at Fulham.

The club told Hammers News this week there is a ‘small chance’ West Ham could sign a player before the Premier League’s final squad deadline on Saturday.

But the club spokesman was keen to point out space in the squad and on the wage bill is running thin.

So could the club be expediting a search for another forward after the Fullkrug scare? Especially if someone departs.

Here’s the truth about West Ham free agent striker signing as player tipped for exit by Friday.

Truth about West Ham free agent striker signing

After negotiations with Corinthians fell through, West Ham defender Luizao could be set to join Eyupspor in Turkey this week.

The Turkish transfer window closes on Friday and Eyupspor, currently 4th in the Turkish league, are looking to loan the 22-year-old defender according to UOL.

Belgian side Gent also tried to sign Luizao, who has clearly not been deemed up to the levels required since arriving at West Ham from Sao Paulo in January 2023.

The report states ‘parties are looking to speed up negotiations’.

But that’s not because West Ham are looking to free up some wages and space for a new striker.

Because according to board source Whetstone, any move for a free agent forward has been ditched after Fullkrug’s positive medical test result.

“West Ham will NOT be looking for a striker in the free agent market as the Niclas Fullkrug injury while on German International duty is minor and he is not expected to be out for that long,” Whetstone said.

This is probably the right decision.

It would smack of the bad West Ham of old to sign an over the hill player desperately trying to salvage the final years of their career.

The Hammers have moved on from that era.

West Ham’s next striker signing needs to be planned properly and should be a younger player with pace who can be at the club for many years.

Hence why so many supporters continually take the argument back to Duran.