West Ham United’s failed move for Ollie Watkins in January 2020 continues to haunt them. The striker’s recent goal against the Netherlands in the European Championship served as a reminder of what West Ham could have had. At the time, West Ham was looking to strengthen their striking options due to Sebastien Haller’s struggles. However, Brentford, Watkins’ club at the time, was reluctant to sell. West Ham ended up signing wide man Jarrod Bowen instead, who has since become one of their leading lights but is not a recognized center-forward.
Now, with new head coach Julen Lopetegui taking over from David Moyes, West Ham is once again in search of a striker. Their main offensive transfer target is Jhon Duran, a 20-year-old Colombia international who currently plays for Aston Villa. Duran has scored eight goals in 49 appearances since joining Villa from MLS side Chicago Fire. While he has attracted interest from Chelsea and AC Milan in the past, Villa manager Unai Emery is open to letting him go to secure more first-team opportunities.
However, West Ham must be cautious with their striker signings. The case of Gianluca Scamacca serves as a cautionary tale. Scamacca joined West Ham from Sassuolo for £30.5 million with high expectations but struggled with his physical condition and was eventually sold back to Serie A.
Lopetegui plans to play a lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 system. In addition to Duran, West Ham is also targeting Youssef En-Nesyri from Sevilla, Elye Wahi from Lens, and Callum Wilson from Newcastle United. However, they have not made any approaches for Brentford’s Ivan Toney or Jota Silva from Vitoria Guimaraes in Portugal.
West Ham’s technical director, Tim Steidten, emphasized that they are looking to build up the squad and not limit themselves to just one position. They will be active in the transfer market and have no intention of selling players to fund new signings.
Currently, West Ham only has Danny Ings as their recognized striker, with Divin Mubama’s departure and Said Benrahma’s move to Lyon. Ings has had limited playing time and is eager to showcase his abilities and prove himself to the fans.
Another player with an uncertain future at West Ham is Michail Antonio. The 34-year-old has attracted interest from clubs in Brazil, MLS, and the Saudi Pro League. Antonio has been a key goalscorer for West Ham, but the club has struggled to find a suitable replacement due to his unique playing style.
The task of finding a proven striker will be Tim Steidten’s most important challenge yet. He has already made some signings, including goalkeeper Wes Foderingham, winger Luis Guilherme, and defender Max Kilman from Wolves. However, securing a reliable goalscorer remains a priority for West Ham as they look to improve their attacking options for the upcoming season.