West Ham have been linked with a January move for Manchester United outcast Joshua Zirkzee to solve their striker problems and now he’s delivered his verdict.
It took Nuno Espirito Santo just one week to identify West Ham’s number one January transfer window priority after replacing Graham Potter.
The Hammers were heavily linked with signing Manchester United flop Rasmus Hojlund in the summer.
Ruben Amorim made it clear to the Dane that he was not part of his plans at Old Trafford.
West Ham fans implored the club to go out and sign a young, powerful forward who could breathe new life into their attack.
Nuno identifies striker problem after two games at West Ham
Instead, they signed ageing, injury-prone striker Callum Wilson on a free transfer to add to their other injury-prone ageing forward Niclas Fullkrug.
Hojlund joined Napoli, where he has started the Serie A season on fire.
Meanwhile, Fullkrug has been abysmal in Nuno’s first two matches and the Portuguese has snubbed Wilson so far.
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Within days of Nuno arriving in east London, West Ham were being linked with forwards.
Gabriel Jesus, Franculino Dju, Chris Wood and Real Madrid’s Endrick are all said to be Hammers targets for the January window.
Joshua Zirkzee during Brentford v Manchester United - Premier League
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
One name that has emerged this week, though, is perhaps the most interesting as he arguably fits Nuno’s style best in the shape of Man United’s Joshua Zirkzee.
The former Bologna star was actually linked with the Hammers for some time before Man United signed him in a £43m deal nearly 18 months ago.
A host of outlets, including Caught Offside, have reported that Nuno is a big fan of the powerful and versatile Dutch forward.
Prominent Hammers insider ExWHUemployee has also stated Zirkzee is a target when delivering a transfer update on the West Ham Way podcast this week.
Man United outcast Zirkzee tells West Ham what they want to hear
Former Bologna ace Zirkzee is yet to start a match for the Red Devils this season and is not in Amorim’s plans having been signed by Erik ten Hag.
Zirkzee has lost his place in Ronald Koeman’s Holland squad as a result of making just three cameo substitute appearances this season.
The 24-year-old is behind new Manchester United signings Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha in the Old Trafford pecking order.
That has alerted West Ham to his potential availability as Nuno weighs up a January move.
Man United forward Joshua Zirkzee training with the Dutch national team
Photo by Angelo Blankespoor/Soccrates/Getty Images
Now Man United outcast Zirkzee has told West Ham exactly what they want to hear.
Zirkzee’s camp has leaked information that will delight West Ham and new manager Nuno.
The striker has told the Hammers exactly what they want to hear as speculation over a potential move to east London begins to gather pace.
Leading Manchester United reporters Nathan Salt and Chris Wheeler have delivered an update from Zirkzee’s camp amid the links with West Ham.
Their Man United Confidential column reveals that the Dutchman is ‘deeply frustrated’ and confused about his lack of game time.
Hammers boost as Zirkzee camp leak that he’s desperate for move
Especially with next summer’s World Cup looming.
It is claimed the £43million star is desperate to impress during the second half of the season to try and win his Holland place back.
And that could play right into West Ham’s hands because Zirkzee isn’t just open to a move in January, he is ‘desperately’ pushing to secure one and is actively looking to have his future sorted.
Zirkzee will want to join a club where he is the guaranteed starter if his main motivation is to earn a place in the Dutch squad for the World Cup.
West Ham would be among the biggest Premier League clubs who could offer him that given the lack of competition in east London.
A front three of Zirkzee with his fellow Dutchman Crysencio Summerville and Jarrod Bowen either side suddenly completely transforms West Ham.
Zirkzee is a strong boy who links the play and holds the ball up excellently.
He is also good in the air, which will be music to the ears of El Hadji Malick Diouf.
With the player so eager for a move, West Ham might actually be able to have this lined up for January 1st too, instead of wasting an entire month chasing lost causes – as has often been the case in the past.
This definitely looks like one to watch.