West Ham have named the striker they now expect to sign following intense fan backlash over Graham Potter’s alleged transfer plan for the forward line.
- Hammers News exclusive
The player in question will spark strong opinions and the Hammers’ decision could prove highly divisive while there are also fears behind the scenes it’s not enough.
After the sale of Mohammed Kudus to Spurs and arrival of full-backs El Hadji Malick Diouf and Kyle Walker-Peters, Graham Potter’s attention has turned to other positions for his West Ham rebuild.
The Hammers brought in Diouf in an initial £19m deal from Slavia Prague after raising £54.5m from Kudus.
Walker-Peters joins on a free transfer, signing a three-year deal with the Hammers.
As reported for some time now, West Ham ideally want to sign at least two midfielders, a goalkeeper, a centre-back and at least one new forward.
Fixing the midfield is widely regarded to be West Ham’s biggest issue – and the root cause of the team’s problems dating back to the sale of Declan Rice.
West Ham striker situation comes into focus
But many fans feel the striker position is also of paramount importance too.
Especially after the departures of Danny Ings and Evan Ferguson – and with Michail Antonio’s future uncertain.
Even if Antonio were to stay and compete with Niclas Fullkrug, it would leave the Hammers relying on two ageing and injury-prone forwards who turn 36 and 33 respectively next season.
Less than two weeks ago West Ham’s hierarchy revealed the club still “hope to sign one or two strikers”.
That was music to the ears of supporters, who feel the position has been neglected for far too long.
Especially as Potter and head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay have a clear transfer philosophy to sign young, dynamic players as they look to rebuild the Hammers.
Most targets fit that profile and are aged between 20 and 25.
West Ham have been linked with a number of younger forwards including Strasbourg’s Emanuel Emegha and Evann Guessand of Nice to name but two.
While Fullkrug is well liked by fans, his lack of pace and mobility was on show again when West Ham played Grasshoppers in their first pre-season clash at the weekend.
Towards the end of last season Potter stated he saw Fullkrug as an impact sub at best for West Ham.
But when pressed on the club’s striker search over the weekend, West Ham changed their stance after Fullkrug came back for pre-season three kilos lighter and determined to make a success of what’s left of his Hammers career.
It was stated that Potter told the board he “doesn’t think West Ham need an expensive striker”.
But in a further development since, Sean Whetstone – a close confidant of majority owner David Sullivan – then claimed on Claret and Hugh that Potter has stated to the owners he now doesn’t think the Hammers need to sign any new strikers.
Fan fury over Potter’s alleged West Ham striker plan
That news went down like a lead balloon among supporters who have reacted furiously on social media and fan groups.
Now West Ham have named the controversial striker they ‘expect to sign’ after fan fury over Potter’s alleged plan.
Hammers News put it to the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners that going into the new season with Fullkrug as the main striker is a massive risk.
Especially given many are predicting it will be the most competitive Premier League season for years.
It was also put to the board that very few Premier League clubs have a traditional target man up front who lacks pace.
Forest with Chris Wood and Wolves with Jørgen Strand Larsen being the only examples – both being more mobile than Fullkrug.
Now Hammers News has discussed the striker situation at length with the top spokesman for West Ham’s board.
In a lively and honest back and forth where no punches were pulled over what fans want and expect, a major revelation was made about a likely forward signing.
West Ham name controversial striker they ‘expect to sign’ after
And it has been exclusively revealed to Hammers News that West Ham expect to sign bogeyman Callum Wilson on a free transfer following his release from Newcastle.
Wilson, who turns 34 next season, has scored more goals against the Hammers in his career than any other team.
The former England international has been linked with a move to West Ham throughout his career.
But he has often got under the skin of West Ham fans, especially after referring to his handball goal against them for Bournemouth as a ‘touch of magic’.
Although a couple of years ago, Wilson described West Ham as a club ‘everyone wants to play for’.
West Ham fans feared the limit of the club’s striker ambitions this summer would be ageing free agents like Wilson and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Hammers expect to sign Wilson but there’s fears it’s not enough
The Hammers previously denied interest in either striker.
But that has now changed with the stark admission from the senior Hammers contact.
“The manager does not want a striker which some feel is wrong,” the West Ham spokesman told Hammers News.
“I feel we should sign two.
“We expect to sign Callum Wilson, but that might not be enough in my opinion as he has had injury issues in the past too.”
The news may not sit well with Hammers fans and suddenly Calvert-Lewin looks a much more appealing option.
Many Hammers fans have predicted the club would move for Wilson given he is available on a free and is represented by Unique Sports Group co-founder Will Salthouse, who is close with the Sullivan family.
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