The January transfer window opens next week and it seems West Ham have no time to waste if a top journalist is to be believed.
It is painfully clear that West Ham desperately need to make changes to their squad.
With the January transfer window just a week away, that opportunity is there.
The big summer rebuild has not been a success with the Hammers sorely lacking pace, power, dynamism and guile in midfield and up front.
West Ham opted to sign slow, ageing and injury-prone forward Niclas Fullkrug instead of the young, mobile and athletic striker fans wanted.
Technical director Tim Steidten used his £45m striker budget on Fullkrug and untested teenager Luis Guilherme instead of going all in for Jhon Duran.
That has put the German’s reputation – and potentially his job – on the line.
Because Fullkrug has started just one league game after three months out injured.
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And it’s clear for all to see the target man is not going to be the answer in the short or long term to West Ham’s striker problems.
Especially since Michail Antonio’s car crash took him out of the equation too.
There is no doubt Fullkrug is a top level finisher.
But he turns 32 this season and has not looked comfortable in the cut and thrust of the Premier League thus far.
Niclas Fullkrug of West Ham United looks on during the Pre-Season Friendly match between West Ham United and Celta Vigo at London Stadium on August...
Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images
West Ham already have rapid fire striker deals ready to roll
Top Hammers source Sean Whetstone recently revealed Fullkrug is unsettled at West Ham and already wants to leave in January.
In an interview last week, Fullkrug made it clear he feels joining the Hammers has been a mistake.
A recent report stated Fullkrug’s agents have held informal talks with Juventus about a move away in the window.
The Hammers have confirmed they intend to be active in January but must sell players to give themselves wiggle room over FFP.
West Ham already have rapid fire striker deals ready to roll next week say sources.
And it will be all change up front for the Irons if the leak is accurate.
According to the Bild’s head of football Christian Falk, West Ham are in preliminary talks to offload Fullkrug to Juventus and sign an exciting young striker 13 years his junior.
In his latest Daily Briefing, Falk claims compatriot Fullkrug is ‘very upset’ with his situation in London.
The journalist has confirmed the chance is indeed there for him to join Juve.
And he claims West Ham are lining up powerful 18-year-old Greek forward Stefanos Tzimas as Fullkrug’s replacement.
Falk says he has heard West Ham are lining up Tzimas, which makes sense given Fullkrug is very upset with his situation.
Stefanos Tzimas of Nuernberg gestures during the Second Bundesliga match between Hamburger SV and 1. FC Nürnberg at Volksparkstadion on November 03...
Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
Fullkrug out, Tzimas in for West Ham claims top journalist
His report states there are talks for Fullkrug to leave for Juventus – which he describes as a ‘good move’ for all because it will enable West Ham to sign Tzimas.
Falk says nothing is concretely done at the moment, but that Fullkrug to Juve and Tzimas to West Ham if the idea ahead of the window opening next week.
This is more like it from West Ham.
Steidten pledged to rebuild the team around young, versatile, exciting players.
So when he brought in the likes of Fullkrug it completely went against that recruitment policy.
Somehow Steidten conspired to take the Premier League’s second oldest squad and make it the oldest.
Tzimas is on loan at Bundesliga 2 side FC Nurnberg from PAOK – for whom he is the club’s youngest ever goalscorer.
Last year, Tzimas was named in The Guardian’s top 100 footballers on the planet at just 17.
He has seven goals in 14 games this season and is known for his technical ability, versatility and keen eye for goal as well as his ability to lead the press.
You can check out Tzimas in action in the obligatory YouTube compilation above.
Bringing in an 18-year-old striker of this profile is much more in line with what West Ham fans were hoping to see from Steidten’s recruitment.
Particularly as he is known as ‘the pearl diver’.
Cutting their losses on Fullkrug is also a refreshing change from the Hammers.
For too long the club has held on to big name or big money signings when it is clear they simply aren’t working out.
The best run clubs spot when they’ve made transfer errors and correct them swiftly and efficiently.
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