West Ham have long been linked with a move for Ademola Lookman and it’s been claimed he’s on a three-man shortlist for January.
The Hammers are in desperate need of new attacking impetus.
Proof, if it were needed, comes in the last three West Ham matches.
In games against Leicester, Wolves and Bournemouth, West Ham United have registered a whopping 66 shots.
Yes SIXTY SIX shots.
But they have scored just four goals – one of which was a very fortunate and dubious penalty.
The form of Mohammed Kudus has fallen off a cliff under Julen Lopetegui.
Kudus once again showed public dissent towards the manager when subbed at Bournemouth.
Relations have been frosty since they had a blazing row at Brentford.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
Lopetegui continues to play the Ghanaian out of position on the left and it seems a match made in hell.
One that could end with Kudus being sold six months earlier than planned if new reports are anything to go by.
Up front West Ham were already planning to sign a striker in January.
Niclas Fullkrug of West Ham United replaces his teammate Michail Antonio during the Pre-Season Friendly match between West Ham United and Celta Vig...
Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images
West Ham actively looking to sign striker in January
That was before Michail Antonio’s car crash which will keep him out for over a year and seems likely to end his career.
Danny Ings’ face doesn’t fit at West Ham and he is out of contract at the end of the season.
Niclas Fullkrug is ageing and injury prone and reportedly wants out in January having failed to settle in England.
So West Ham will need at least two new strikers in the coming windows.
But with PSR restrictions, signing one new forward is a top priority in the winter window.
Just over a month ago it was reported that West Ham have agreed on a shortlist of three strikers they want to sign in the coming windows.
One of those names is Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman.
Journalist Ben Jacobs stated Lookman is ‘another name discussed internally by the Hammers’.
It was claimed the former Charlton star, who scored a hat-trick to win Atalanta the Europa League final at the end of last season, was the most realistic of the options for the January window.
Now Lookman has referenced West Ham in a speech after links to bring him full circle in January.
Ademola Lookman of Atalanta competes for the ball with Lucas Vazquez of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match...
Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images
Lookman references West Ham in speech after links
Lookman has come into his own since joining the Serie A side.
He’s scored 43 goals in 96 games for Atalanta and already has 11 in 19 this season.
The London-born Nigeria star has been so good he’s been named African Player of the Year ahead of the likes of West Ham’s Kudus.
On receiving his honour, Lookman referenced West Ham to show how far he has come.
“Just over four years ago, I failed in front of the world,” Lookman said.
“Fast forward four years, and I’m the best player in Africa.
“I want to say to the young children and people watching this: don’t let your failures weigh you down to the point they break your wings. Matter of fact, turn your pain into your power and continue to fight.”
The moment of failure Lookman is referring to of course was the moment he tried a Panenka penalty for Fulham in the last minute of a 1-0 defeat to West Ham.
A stoppage-time strike from Tomas Soucek looked to have given the Hammers the win before a dramatic late penalty was awarded.
Lookman stepped up and failed with an awful attempt at a Panenka penalty which dribbled into Lukasz Fabianski’s hands and saw him mocked and ridiculed mercilessly.
The baby-faced 27-year-old was visibly affected by the incident. It played a big part in Fulham opting not to make his loan permanent.
“Just over four years ago, I failed in front of the world. Fast forward four years and I’m the best player in Africa.”
A powerful reminder from Ademola Lookman to keep pursuing your dreams 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/wHD9cjrbyn
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 17, 2024
View Tweet
Hammers could bring Lookman full circle in January
A spell at Leicester was equally disappointing before his career-changing £12.5m sale to Atalanta from RB Leipzig.
That moment at West Ham clearly fuelled Lookman’s desire to show the world what he can really do.
He has said so himself in his big speech.
What better way to banish that demon than to come full circle by returning to the London Stadium in January.
Reports claim Atalanta value Lookman at between £20-25m as his contract runs for another 18 months.
What might be in West Ham’s favour is that Atalanta still owe the Hammers several instalments of the £27m fee for Gianluca Scamacca.
West Ham could do a lot worse than bringing Lookman to the club to reinvigorate their forward line.
He has excelled playing as a second striker this season.
But he can operate on either wing and in the number 10 role.
Related Posts