Bringing in a forward from the lower leagues on a hunch is not the conventional method to ensure a prolific [goal scorer](https://www.claretandhugh.info/antonio-holding-out-for-higher-wages-as-west-ham-stick-to-short-term-offer/) lands at your club.
However the successes when they come are pretty spectacular. Ian Wright, Jamie Vardy and Les Ferdinand all succeeded in the lower leagues before making it big: West Ham’s own Michail Antonio also plied his trade in the lower divisions via Tooting & Mitcham United then spells at Reading, Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest before arriving at West Ham.
So, news from [_ExWHUemployee_](https://www.thewesthamway.com/2025/05/30/huge-amount-exwhuemployee-hammers-eye-move-for-wycombe-striker/) that West Ham are taking a good look at Wycombe Wanderers’ striker **Richard Kone** could be seen as either necessity owing to financial constraints or a bit of ‘thinking outside of the box’.
Either way it is one interesting story. Just 21 and prolific in League One last season with 21 goals, West Ham are apparently considering putting in a bid to Wycombe for the forward.
The 6ft Ivorian won’t break the bank with a Transfermarkt valuation of £300,000 but with the right ‘add-ons’ could be very well worth a punt and good business for Wycombe too. Certainly a player who would add another dimension to West Ham’s Niclas Fullkrug- only attacking line up.
And with such a modest fee involved, the downside is pretty minimal. Kone could very well be one to watch this summer.