The links with up-and-coming strikers such as [Lucas Stassin](https://www.claretandhugh.info/the-two-young-guns-that-can-transform-west-hams-summer/) and Adama Bojang continue to fill column inches and web ‘reports’ by the score. The truth is, West Ham are in need of a striker with more than one season behind them, an immediate competitor for Niclas Fullkrug who can hit the ground running – literally – as a Premier League starter come the second week in August.
Stassin, Bojang or any other ‘wonderkid’ currently occupying the media won’t cut the mustard, and in any case, the Hammers have two of their own already. Daniel Cummings is due to land at London stadium next week and Callum Marshall has returned from a hugely successful loan spell. Either, or both of the talented duo could make it into the Premier League squad for next season but only as third and fourth choice.
Which means there is a burning need for a senior frontman: When a report appears in today’s [standard.co.uk](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/dominic-calvert-lewin-everton-west-ham-b1235482.html) for one of the Premier League old hands – Dominic Calvert- Lewin , it needs to be taken seriously. Available on a free with ‘just’ a signing on fee due to the player, Calvert Lewin ticks a lot of boxes for fixing West Ham’s short term paucity of firepower. As the Standard put it:
“_Dominic Calvert-Lewin has confirmed that he will depart Everton as a free agent this summer, with West Ham United interested in the striker.. According to FootballTransfers, the Hammers made an approach to the 28-year-old a fortnight ago… Calvert-Lewin earned £100,000 per week at Everton, and the report claims that the Hammers would be willing to improve his pay packet should he make the switch to east London on a free transfer.”_
Critics ( and boy, will there be critics!) will see it as another old, injury-laden striker on the cheap – but with two youngsters already at the club, an ‘experienced old pro’ like Calvert Lewin is certainly an upgrade on the ‘Ings-Fullkrug’ option from 2024-5.