West Ham United’s increasingly desperate attempts to sign a striker before the transfer deadline have hit a dead end.
West Ham have been linked with a plethora of forwards going into deadline day.
The long-running interest in Maxi Gomez is reportedly dead (TeamTalk).
Manuel Pellegrini is at a crossroads in terms of strikers.
Fork in the road for West Ham over strikers
Lucas Perez and Javier Hernandez have both been linked with moves away.
Andy Carroll’s contract is up in the summer and is not expected to be extended.
Marko Arnautovic has signed an improved deal to keep him at the club but his future too is uncertain.
Michy Batshuayi has been linked with a last ditch loan move but wages are an issue (The Sun).
Options dwindling
Olivier Giroud and Duvan Zapata have also been mentioned.
But it has now emerged West Ham have also failed with an 11th hour bid for France Under 21 international striker Jean-Kevin Augustin.
According to The Sun, Augustin’s club RB Leipzig blocked a last ditch bid from the Hammers.
The 21-year-old has scored 11 goals in 37 games for Leipzig since moving from Paris St Germain.
Late bid for France U21 star foiled
The Sun’s report states: “The London club decided to see if they could tempt Leipzig with the offer of a loan deal with the view to a permanent transfer at the end of the season.
“But Leipzig boss Rangnick was unwilling to entertain any of the approaches believing it was vital he held his squad together for the remainder of the season.”
Loan with an option is a preferred deal structure of Hammers owners David Sullivan and David Gold.
If West Ham end up without any incomings they will have to rely on potentially four strikers who will all be leaving come the summer.
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