West Ham’s search for a striker has long felt like a cursed pursuit. From record signings that failed to fire to ageing stop-gaps, the number nine spot at the London Stadium has become a graveyard of ambition.
[With winter signing Valentin Castellanos yet to hit the ground running](https://westhamblog.co.uk/west-hams-e29m-gamble-why-valentin-castellanos-is-not-delivering-the-goods-as-expected/), the Hammers could be in the market for a new centre-forward this summer, and the solution is staring Tim Steidten in the face: Bologna’s Santiago Castro.
At 21, Castro is not just another prospect—he may be the closest thing the modern game has to a Carlos Tevez reincarnation.
Castro’s appeal is not limited to spreadsheet statistics, though his 21 goals in all competitions over the last two seasons suggest a clear upward trajectory.
While many strikers wait for service, Castro hunts for it. For a West Ham team often set up to play in transition, Castro could be the spark plug they have been missing.
He does not just lead the line; he harasses defences and offers a focal point West Ham have sorely missed since the prime years of Michail Antonio.
Bologna know they have a diamond on their hands. They value Castro at around €40 million, [with Nottingham Forest and AC Milan reportedly showing interest alongside West Ham](https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/il-milan-ha-messo-gli-occhi-su-santiago-castro-il-bologna-fa-muro-e-la-premier-inizia-a-muoversi-2216416).
Sitting ninth in Serie A, Bologna are likely to miss out on European football next season—unless they win the 2025/26 Europa League, where they face Aston Villa in the quarter-finals.