West Ham must get revenge by hijacking an exciting Leeds move for Cody Gakpo in January to give stuttering Jarrod Bowen real competition.
Ask any West Ham fan which player has fallen well below their usual standards this season and the answer will undoubtedly be Bowen.
David Moyes has overseen a major overhaul of his West Ham squad this summer with eight new signings to the tune of over £170m.
After a raft of departures, it was very much needed. Although nobody had expected one particular departure – brilliant young forward Sonny Perkins joining Leeds United.
Perkins rose to prominence with regular inclusion in the West Ham first team squad last season despite being just 17 at the time.
That clearly caught the attention of Leeds manager Jesse Marsch.
West Ham announced Perkins had decided to leave the club for Leeds in an angry statement where they criticised his agents and confirmed they would be seeking compensation from the Elland Road club.
Leeds and West Ham have had differing starts to the new season with Marsch’s side registering double the points of Moyes’ boys after six games.
Much of West Ham’s failings so far can be put down to a lack of goals.
Last season the Hammers relied heavily on Bowen to score or make goals as he contributed an incredible 16 goals and 11 assists in all competitions.
This season Bowen has been well off the pace, though. He is still working hard for the Hammers but he has been a yard off it in the Premier League and it has cost West Ham dear so far.
There have been calls for new signing Maxwel Cornet to replace Bowen in the West Ham starting XI.
But Cornet’s best position is on the left. In football they say if you stand still you get left behind. And competition is healthy for getting the best out of your players.
West Ham must get revenge by hijacking an exciting Leeds move for Cody Gakpo in January to give stuttering Bowen real competition.
The versatile Dutch star can play anywhere across the front line, operating best as a wide right or left forward.
Gakpo was linked with a move to Man United in the summer but they signed Anthony instead.
And on deadline day it seemed Gakpo came close to coming to the Premier League with Southampton and Leeds pushing to sign the 223-year-old.
Gakpo remained at PSV when the window closed.
But Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani has publicly admitted he wants the Dutchman.
And Fabrizio Romano has reported that the 23-year-old Netherlands international is the “main target” for Leeds in January.
“Leeds are planning to push again for Cody Gakpo in January, after crazy change on Deadline Day,” Romano sais.
“He’s the main target… but there will be lot of competition.”
West Ham should be one of those providing serious competition.
Not only would beating Leeds to his signing be a measure of revenge for Perkins, but it would give Moyes serious competition for Bowen and even more flexibility and options in his forward line.
West Ham lost 10 players over the summer and signed eight. Moyes had already admitted he was three players short last season and while the quality has undoubtedly gone up there are still gaps in the squad.
A deal was there to be done for Gakpo at around the £25-30m mark according to reports.
He fits the recruitment model for Moyes and Rob Newman and would be one in the eye for Leeds from West Ham.
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