West Ham are reportedly looking to sign a £200,000-per-week forward as manager David Moyes looks for more options.
The Hammers have re-entered the striker market.
Despite their best efforts, West Ham failed to sign a replacement for Gianluca Scamacca, who left for Atalanta during the summer transfer window after an underwhelming season in east London last season.
The Italian joins a long list of failed striker signings at the London Stadium, with West Ham failing in a late deadline day attempt to sign Hugo Ekitike from PSG to replace him.
Michail Antonio’s injury, while not as serious as first feared, highlights the club’s glaring lack of depth up front, with backup Danny Ings falling out of favor under Moyes, having played just over an hour in the Premier League this season, with Moyes instead turning to makeshift options like Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen.
West Ham need to bring in another number nine, and they’ve been linked with a few intriguing candidates.
Moyes is interested in Stuttgart midfielder Serhou Guirassy, whose contract reportedly includes a £17 million release clause. The Guinea international has already scored 15 goals in eight Bundesliga games this season (WhoScored).
Meanwhile, there have been reports that West Ham could re-sign Ekitike in January. The Frenchman turned down an offer from the Irons earlier this year, despite PSG accepting it, but he’s now surplus to requirements under Luis Enrique (Football Insider).
West Ham is looking into a Werner deal.
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Timo Werner of RB Leipzig has also been mentioned at various points.
West Ham have reportedly made contact regarding the German, with TEAMtalk now providing its own update.
West Ham are said to be interested in Werner as part of Moyes’ “desperate” search for a new striker, which is expected to take the form of a loan.
According to TEAMtalk, Werner earns around £200,000 per week at Leipzig, which may be a sticking point for West Ham, as their highest earner, Lucas Paqueta, earns around £50,000 less, according to Spotrac.
Nonetheless, he is a genuine candidate to leave Leipzig, and West Ham will assess the terms of this potential departure before making a firm offer.
After a stellar 2019/20 season at Leipzig, where he scored 28 goals in 33 Bundesliga starts (WhoScored), the 27-year-old couldn’t quite make it in the Premier League at Chelsea.
Signed by the Blues in 2020, he was let go to Leipzig just two years later, where he has failed to replicate his 2019/20 form. Despite this, Werner has received some praise, with pundit Paddy Kenny calling him a “very good player” who gets into “unbelievable” positions (Football Insider).
Kenny also stated that his speed and movement pose a “constant threat” to defensive lines.
So, while Werner does not have the best Premier League memories, he may be tempted to redeem himself on these shores if West Ham can offer him a starring role.
