West Ham United in fresh link to Cyle Larin, the striker with a stunning scoring record who could be the perfect foil for Michail Antonio.
Not many West Ham fans would have heard of Larin until the summer.
The Besiktas striker’s name was one of a plethora David Moyes was linked with as West Ham searched high and low for a striker to play back-up to Michail Antonio.
In the end Moyes elected not to bring in a forward, telling The Independent there was a dearth of available options.
It has not done West Ham any harm so far this season with the east Londoners flying high in fourth place in the Premier League, one win from the Europa League last 16 and into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup after famous victories over Manchester United and Manchester City.
West Ham are living dangerously relying on Antonio given his injury history.
Moyes is not naive, though, and he admitted last week he may need ‘another Jesse Lingard’ in January.
And it seems West Ham could renew their interest Larin when the January window opens.
West Ham were linked with the 26-year-old Canadian in the summer as he entered the last year of his contract with the Turkish giants (TUM SPOR).
And the Hammers could look to sign him from Besiktas for a knockdown fee in January or agree a pre-contract agreement for a free transfer in the summer.
West Ham in fresh link to Larin the striker with a superb scoring record who could be the perfect foil for Antonio
That’s according to the likes of Haber365 and TEAMtalk.
According to the reports, Larin has paved the way for the likes of West Ham – and rivals Tottenham and Everton – to move for him in January having rejected a new contract offer at Besiktas.
And Larin could be the perfect foil or back-up for Antonio. He boasts an incredible scoring record in his career so far.
Larin’s talent was clear early on when he was snapped up by Orlando after just five games for Sigma in the Canadian Youth League where he scored a goal per game.
The West Ham target then maintained a scoring ratio of a goal every other game in MLS, notching 44 in 89 for Orlando over three seasons.
That earned him a move to Turkey with Besiktas. But it was not without controversy as Larin refused to train to force through a transfer – much like former West Ham star Dimitri Payet.
He hit 23 goals in 45 games last season helping the Turkish club beat bitter rivals Galatasaray to the title on goal difference while also lifting the Turkish Cup.
And for Canada, Larin has 20 goals in 42 games. That makes his overall goal record almost bang on one in two with 100 strikes in just over 200 games.
The West Ham target was named an MLS all star as a 21-year-old in 2016 and Rookie of the Year the season before.
He is powerful, quick, both footed and good in the air.
And he has showed no sign of letting up this season, notching nine goals in 10 starts for club and country so far.