It has been a week of complete contrasts at West Ham United with the rollercoaster of a third loss in a row seemingly galvanising the board and David Sullivan into the realisation that Premier League survival is at risk without a huge improvement in the playing squad. Quite why it has taken until now to shake the complacency is a discussion for another day. The impending arrival of midfielders Mateus Fernandes and Soungoutou Magassa are to be welcomed – once they sign on the line.
Further scuttlebutt has the Hammers linked with goalkeepers from Hull to Brazil – along with late bids for strikers from Denmark’s Midtjylland – Franculino Dju – and more concerningly Victor Boniface from Bundesliga giants Bayer Leverkusen.
Boniface is, on the face of it, a pretty powerful addition: However, as per*givemesport.com* last night, the warnings are there as the 24 year old currently sits in limbo:
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“The striker’s future is up in the air after he failed a medical at AC Milan last week, leading to the Italian side making a last-gasp decision to end their pursuit despite verbally agreeing an initial loan which would have included an option to make the switch permanent for close to £21million at the end of the season.”
Anyone who has caught a glimpse of the image doing the rounds purporting (but not proven!) to be of Boniface’s patched up knee will not be surprised, it looks like a badly assembled jigsaw puzzle. Surely after West Ham’s travails last season with strikers out of action through accident, injury and bad luck, the Hammers will give Boniface a very wide berth. The red flag warning is there clear for all to see.
Boniface - West Ham united interested
Boniface failed a medical at AC Milan
Dju on the other hand would be a genuinely exciting addition to the squad- but wishful thinking only gets us so far and it seems the scorched earth midfield clearout and rebuild is the best West Ham fans can expect in the days remaining in this window: The dream of a young, fit, fast, hungry striker is most likely going to have to stay a dream for another summer. Probably.