West Ham’s goal-scoring woes have shown no sign of easing this season.
With Nuno Espírito Santo desperate to strengthen his attack both through the middle and out wide, the club are actively exploring options ahead of the January transfer window.
Following the departures of Michail Antonio and Mohammed Kudus — the latter now thriving at Tottenham — the Hammers’ need for attacking reinforcements has become even more urgent.
While names like Ivan Toney and Joshua Zirkzee have been linked, it appears West Ham’s hopes of landing the latter may have just received a timely boost.
Hammers Handed Zirkzee Boost
Manchester United's Joshua Zirkzee. (Reuters/Jason Cairnduff)
Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee. (Reuters/Jason Cairnduff)
Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee — described as “strong” by Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman — now finds himself slipping down the pecking order at Manchester United following the summer arrivals of Benjamin Šeško, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha.
Reports claim that Nuno is a big admirer of the 24-year-old striker, who has shown flashes of his quality in limited minutes this season.
West Ham are already said to have made contact with United about a January move for Netherlands international, and they may have just been handed encouragement from Old Trafford itself.
Speaking ahead of United’s upcoming fixtures, manager Ruben Amorim addressed growing speculation about Zirkzee’s future — appearing to confirm that the player is unsettled.
“Zirkzee and Mainoo are our players,” Amorim said, as reported by Fabrizio Romano. “We need everyone to have a good season.”
“Some players are not playing, there’s noise, news… some want to play,” he added. “Like you said, there’s a World Cup. There are agents that listen to the players talking all the time.”
Amorim’s admission suggests Zirkzee could be among those pushing for an exit in search of more regular football — something West Ham can certainly offer.
With the January window edging closer and the Hammers crying out for a proven forward, a move for Zirkzee could prove a smart piece of business — particularly if United are open to negotiating a deal.