West Ham are reportedly plotting a shock move which could see them form one of the oldest strikeforces in Premier League history.
Graham Potter pledged to build a new West Ham team around young, hungry players.
But West Ham’s disastrous summer transfer window could now see the polar opposite transpire in east London.
Former technical director Tim Steidten made a similar vow to Potter when he embarked on spending a whopping £155m on nine signings last summer.
Steidten and Julen Lopetegui somehow took the second oldest squad in the Premier League and made it the oldest.
Potter promised youthful West Ham rebuild
Potter identified that as one of West Ham’s big problems and set about trying to fix it this summer with head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay.
A host of young talents have been targeted as evidenced by moves for 20-year-old left wing-back El Hadji Malick Diouf and 25-year-old goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.
The free transfer additions of Kyle Walker-Peters, who turns 29 this season, and Callum Wilson, who will be turning 34 midway through the campaign, have gone completely against Potter’s recruitment policy.
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The two signings have sparked conspiracy theories that majority owner and de facto director of football David Sullivan was behind them.
Potter has toed the company line by insisting he is pleased with West Ham’s business.
Callum Wilson makes his debut for West Ham in defeat to Sunderland
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
But ahead of the summer he made a clear statement about his intentions to drastically lower the age of the Hammers’ squad.
“I think it makes sense for us to lower it (the age of the squad), because then you’re talking more about value and resale and a different profile of player,” Potter told the press about his summer transfer policy.
“I’m not ageist. But I also understand the bigger global picture of football and I’ve come in from the last two clubs (where they) would look to younger players because there are upsides to younger players.”
But now West Ham are plotting one of the oldest strikeforces in Premier League history with a shock move.
West Ham plot one of the oldest strikeforces in Premier League history
After releasing Michail Antonio, who turns 36 in February, West Ham replaced him with Wilson – who is only two years his junior and a lot more injury-prone.
Wilson joins another injury-prone, immobile forward in West Ham’s ranks in the shape of Niclas Fullkrug – who turns 33 this season.
Fullkrug once again showed his worrying limitations in the drubbing at Sunderland on the opening day.
Much has been made of Fullkrug’s strength and aerial prowess. But he lost nine of 10 challenges he was involved in, spending most of his time on the floor at the Stadium of Light.
Now the Hammers are reportedly planning a shock new move for a player who will make Fullkrug, Wilson and even Antonio look like spring chickens.
Jamie Vardy celebrates during Leicester City FC v Ipswich Town FC - Premier League
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
Because The Sun claim sources have told them West Ham are considering trying to sign Jamie Vardy, who turns 39 in January.
Vardy left Leicester following their relegation last season.
And West Ham-supporting Sun journalist Henry Tomlinson reckons the club have spoken to Vardy’s camp about a move to the London Stadium amid serious concerns over their forward line.
When Hammers News exclusively revealed West Ham were going to sign Callum Wilson, the club’s owners stated they felt the team needed to bring in two new forwards.
Irons fans were furious about signing Wilson.
But many noted they would be more accepting of the deal if it was alongside West Ham signing a younger, pacy and powerful forward for the future.
That’s why supporters were excited by links to 18-year-old Metz star Idrissa Gueye.
But The Sun’s report says sources have told them West Ham are battling Celtic and Brentford for Vardy, who is more than twice Gueye’s age.
West Ham ‘want’ Vardy as part of 106-year-old forward line
If Vardy was to join West Ham it would give Potter hands down one of the oldest collections of strikers in Premier League history.
Teddy Sheringham is officially the oldest player to score in the Premier League – with West Ham at over 40 years of age.
Vardy is said to want to play on until he is in his 40s – meaning he could stand to break Sheringham’s record if he does move to east London.
By April the Hammers’ strikeforce, if Vardy were to sign, would have a cumulative age of 106-years-old.
So much for the youthful rebuild.
Even to be linked with Vardy is somewhat embarrassing.
But West Ham’s window has been so utterly underwhelming, the club may get to a stage in the next two weeks where Vardy is better than nobody.