West Ham United must return to the upper echelon of the Premier League table next season. The Hammers need a response after a forgettable 2024/25 campaign.
Key to this fightback for the Hammers is brilliant recruitment in the transfer market.
After the diabolical dealings of former technical director Tim Steidten last summer, the club cannot afford any mistakes in their bid to strengthen the roster.
West Ham need to bolster the squad from back to front, but the latter is particularly crucial after a season where the Irons were dull up top.
Striker [Niclas Fullkrug](https://westhamblog.co.uk/posts/three-strikers-west-ham-can-sign-to-replace-out-of-favour-niclas-fullkrug-view/) endured a season blighted by injuries, while an already-declining Michail Antonio suffered a horrendous car accident that would rule him out for much of the campaign.
A striker should be atop the West Ham summer transfer wishlist. According to West Ham insider [ExWHUEmployee](https://www.thewesthamway.com/2025/05/30/huge-amount-exwhuemployee-hammers-eye-move-for-wycombe-striker/), Wycombe Wanderers striker Richard Kone is on that list of targets.
“Kone is someone that is in our radar and is being considered as a forward signing,” Ex stated.
The 21-year-old ended the 2024/25 season with 21 goals in 50 appearances across all competitions, helping Wycombe Wanderers reach the League One play-offs.
Although Charlton Athletic ultimately knocked the Chairboys out, Kone’s standout display in the second leg did not go unnoticed.
What makes his rise even more remarkable is where it all began – the ninth tier of English football.
He turned out for Athletic Newham, a Dagenham-based side in step five of the non-league pyramid and was a goal machine, racking up goals with ruthless abandon.
His next stop could be the English top flight. Kone looks good enough to play as a back-up striker to a marquee signing, in our opinion. He will likely not cost too much.
If West Ham sell Fullkrug and do not renew Michail Antonio’s deal, the Hammers might be in the market for two centre-forwards.
Kone, who has excellent underlying numbers, could be worth the punt. He may not be the blockbuster name fans are craving, but every rebuild starts with hungry, hard-working talent.
Few are more famished than a striker who has climbed from step five to the brink of the big time.
(Stats from Transfermarkt)