Quite a few names have been linked with West Ham’s recruitment of a striker: The situation became ‘urgent’ last weekend and if Niclas Fullkrug carries through his plan to force a loan move away, then the Hammers will be left with the sole option of Danny Ings to offer Lopetegui competition for makeshift striker Jarrod Bowen.
Clearly Steidten needs to act in the January market – hence the loan reports of Callum Wilson (who even just in the last hour might have an injury issue – more of that later).
The alternative is to go into the market for a permanent signing and one such name that keeps cropping up is 18-year-old FC Nürnberg striker Stefanos Tzimas.
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As detailed in*3addedminutes.com:“the Greek forward is on loan from PAOK, and Nürnberg would exercise their purchase option of €18m (£14.8m) before selling him to West Ham for a profit. It’s said that West Ham are “really hot” for the youngster, however, so that probably wouldn’t be an insurmountable option.”*
Quite how West Ham see the 18 year old integrating into their squad is unclear. Lopetegui seems to have little time for his own youngsters so the point on signing another teenager for £20 million to sit on the bench is beyond me. The youngster is definitely one to watch for the future, but as for providing week-in week out cover in the Premier League after January? No chance.