Recent suggestions by various ‘in the knows’ suggest [West Ham’s](https://www.claretandhugh.info/fullkrug-in-striker-swop-story-heres-why-it-could-be-true-west-ham-news/) striker search has narrowed and that the club already have a six- strong shortlist for January. Fabrizio Romano recently suggested that Manchester United’s out of favour Joshua Zirkzee may be available on a loan first, if he still struggles for game time between now and the opening of the January window.
Which on the face of it, doesn’t seem hugely exciting for West Ham. Zirkzee’s stats hardly set the world on fire. After scoring on his debut, the Dutch forward has amassed just two more Premier League goals in 35. But the Rasmus Hojland ‘rebirth’ at Napoli could yet show the way forward for Zirkzee too, with Old Trafford being something of a goal scorer’s graveyard in recent seasons.
Indeed, [bbc.co.uk](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cpwv5580ejko) claim that “_with service, Hojland is a 25 goal season strike_r” and the same – albeit to a lesser extent, may well be true of Zirkzee. He’s not an out – and -out number nine in Hojland’s mould but more of a number ten: Goals may flow again for Zirkzee as soon as an exit from the Red Devils is complete, as has happened with Hojland – four goals in six games.
West Ham’s assists’ king should provide excellent striker service
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The Hammers certainly have the capacity to provide service for a frontman: Diouf’s rate of assists is pointing towards all sorts of Premeir League ‘assist records’ coming under threat this season. Whether others on the striker ‘shortlist’ are more suited to whipped-in, curling crosses is open for debate. I’m starting to think if West Ham do end up with Zirkzee on a ‘loan to buy’ deal, _then it might not be all bad news._
With the full shortlist (apparently) reported by teamtalk.com as being
_“Joshua Zirkzee (Manchester United), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli- ) at_ £250k plus a week-ain’t going to happen.. _Pio Esposito (Inter Milan), Karim Adeyemi (Dortmund), Mateo Pellegrino (Parma) and Roberto Piccoli (Fiorentina)”_
The problem being, as always, few on that list would have any interest in coming to strife-torn West Ham. Zirkzee on a half-season loan might be the most sensible deal – with an option to keep him, of course, if the Irons stay in the Premier League.