West Ham’s long and fruitless search for a top quality new forward could finally be over when the next window opens.
West Ham have a dismal record of signing strikers over the years.
And on the rare occasion the Hammers do manage to get it right, they tend to suffer with injuries or don’t stick around long.
David Moyes has admitted he has been searching for a forward. But the West Ham boss claims there is a dearth of top talent available.
So he elected not to sign a striker in the summer or January, stating Jarrod Bowen could play there instead.
That has not worked out, though.
West Ham’s Bowen experiment has failed
And it seems that has refocused West Ham minds ahead of the next window – which opens 17 weeks tomorrow.
Because West Ham’s number one summer transfer target has been announced by a Telegraph journalist and he’s just what we need.
The paper’s Mike McGrath says Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke is the man the Hammers want to complete their forward line jigsaw.
Solanke has failed to live up to his undoubted potential in his career so far.
But he seems to have pulled his game together and is now a much more powerful, well-rounded striker.
Hammers want to sign Solanke
That, and a total of 16 goals and counting this season has clearly attracted West Ham, who were heavily linked with a move for the forward in the summer and January.
The Telegraph report states Solanke is top of West Ham’s priority list. And it claims his status as a homegrown player is also a big pull for the Hammers.
“The Bournemouth striker, 26, has admirers at the London Stadium ahead of a summer where a number of clubs are expected to explore whether he will be available for transfer after six seasons at the Vitality Stadium…” McGrath explains.
“Finding a striker for the 2024/25 campaign will be back on the agenda when the season is over, with Solanke among those West Ham have been watching closely following his 16 goals this term.”
When West Ham were linked with Solanke ahead of the January window, Bournemouth owner Bill Foley spoke out to insist the 26-year-old would not be sold this season.
Cherries owner gave hope of deal
But he gave West Ham hope of a summer deal – if the player wants the move.
He said: “If situations arise that we’re put in a position where we are compelled to do something because the player really wants to move on (that’s different), but we were very specific in terms of Philip Billing and Dom and signing them to new, extended contracts.”
Solanke would be the perfect bonafide striker to lead the line in this West Ham side.
With Mohammed Kudus and Bowen around him and either Lucas Paqueta or a top quality replacement pulling the strings, it could be the making of the Hammers.
And one thing is for sure, Solanke will certainly work harder off the ball – as you must in the Premier League – than Sebastien Haller and Gianluca Scamacca.
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