West Ham are preparing for a huge summer which will require at least one new striker signing and Brentford’s Yoane Wissa has been linked.
West Ham fans were excited this week when reports emerged claiming Brentford striker Yoane Wissa had been offered to the Hammers in a cut-price deal.
Not just because the Hammers are desperate for a quality, Premier League proven forward for a reasonable fee.
Or because Wissa has been brilliant again for Brentford this season, replacing Ivan Toney with ease, netting 18 goals and laying on three assists – and counting.
West Ham ‘offered’ 18-goal star Wissa again
But mostly down to the fact Wissa was also linked with a move to West Ham last summer and in January.
And as the old saying goes; ‘there’s no smoke without fire’.
Website Claret and Hugh excited fans by claiming West Ham have been handed a second opportunity to sign Brentford forward Wissa after an approach this week.
Wissa, 28, will enter the last year of his Bees deal next season and is reportedly refusing to sign a new contract.
Brentford are said to have an option for a further year – but that only applies if Wissa agrees to it.
Amid the West Ham links, both Brentford manager Thomas Frank and captain Christian Norgaard have admitted Wissa could leave this summer.
Especially as Brentford’s business model is to ensure they turn a profit on their top players and reinvest in young up-and-coming stars.
The Hammers intend to drive down the age of their squad as part of a rebuild.
But a proven striker is a must.
The problem is the same report claiming West Ham were offered Wissa by Brentford, stated the Hammers have turned down the chance to sign him because he is ‘too old’.
Owners break silence on controversial Wissa call
That has sparked anger among some West Ham fans who feel Wissa would be a clever addition at the right price.
Supporters are worried the club are looking a gift horse in the mouth.
For some clarity, Hammers News reached out to the top spokesman for West Ham’s board for the truth on the situation.
Now West Ham owners have responded amid anger over those deal talks for Brentford star Wissa.
It was put to the Hammers’ hierarchy that reports had claimed Brentford have offered Wissa to West Ham.
West Ham striker search continues as Wissa claims denied
The owners were asked whether there was any truth in that claim and whether Wissa would be a player who interests West Ham.
The response was short, sharp and emphatic.
“Simply not true,” the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners exclusively told Hammers News.
Brentford fans will undoubtedly be relieved to hear that.
Although it is bad news for West Ham supporters who feel Wissa would be a shrewd capture.
There can be no excuses for the Hammers this summer when it comes to the striker situation.
Niclas Fullkrug has become a fan favourite for his outspoken honesty more than his goals having spent most of the season out injured.
The German was the wrong profile of striker for the Hammers and faces an uncertain future this summer.
If 32-year-old Fullkrug does leave, that could leave West Ham without a single recognised striker this summer.
West Ham’s other strikers, Michail Antonio and Danny Ings, are both out of contract and loanee Evan Ferguson is not expected to be retained having failed to register a shot on target let alone a goal.
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