Potter will want new signings this summerplaceholder image
Potter will want new signings this summer | Getty Images
West Ham need more fire power and the door has just opened for them to sign a Premier League legend.
The current tactical trends of modern football have seen managers veer away from what used to be the most important player in any club – a No.9 who could score goals.
Players like Harry Kane are a rarity nowadays, a striker who can do it all and, more importantly, score goals.
The squad that Graham Potter inherited is no different in that Niklas Fullkrug is his only recognised centre-forward now and he started just six Premier League games last season, scoring three goals, West Ham could also face a fresh bid for Mohammed Kudus in the coming days, losing one of their prized assets in the process.
Potter is eyeing El Hadji Malick Diouf but a new striker is a priority and the Hammers have just been given the green light to sign a Premier League legend who still has plenty to offer at the top.
Door opens for West Ham United to sign Jamie Vardy
According to La Repubblica, an Italian media outlet, Jamie Vardy had agreed to join Genoa only for head coach Patrick Vieira to veto the move despite claims of an external investor providing the finances for the deal.
Vardy, at 38, isn’t exactly one for the future, however, he started 35 Premier League games last season, scoring nine goals and providing four assists in the process for a team that was miles off the level needed to survive.
In total, Vardy has 205 goal contributions in 342 games in England’s top flight and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down with the player himself insistent on his ability to keep going at the highest level:
“Yeah, 100%,” Vardy said when asked if he could continue in the Premier League. “But again, football’s a crazy world.”
“So you never know what’s going to happen. I’m always excited for what comes next. I’ve always said I’ll keep going until my legs literally tell me, no, you need to stop, we’re done. And my legs are fine.”
Not only did Vardy hardly miss a game, but he is in the fortunate position where he has plenty of pace to lose from his prime and still looked ridiculously sharp for his age.
A younger striker should also be targeted by the Hammers, however, Vardy would be a safe pair of hands to let them settle and provide an entirely different type of option to Fullkrug.
Who is leading the race to sign Vardy?
If West Ham are to sign Vardy, they might have to move quick with the reports from Italy suggesting that Rangers are now the favourites to land the charismatic No.9, with Russell Martin being coy about speculation linking the veteran striker.
"I think I've been asked about so many players," Martin said.
"Some miles away, some on the money. So, basically, I'm not going to give you an answer on that.
"But I guess you'll find out who's real and who's not in the next few weeks."
"I think we definitely want to do more, for sure," the former Southampton manager said. "And also probably some players need to move on as well at some point because the squad's going to start looking very big and very heavy."
What might go in West Ham’s favour is that Rangers still have three strikers on their books who are all fighting for a starting place, without selling any of them they will be reluctant to move for Vardy who will still be on big wages.
Vardy might have a decision to make, the prospect of playing in a lesser league or one last go at the Champions League or, staying in England and getting the chance to prove that there is still life in the old dog.
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