Another week, another round of uninspired rumours.
Everyone knows that West Ham want a marquee striker – funnily enough, so does every other team – but there are only so many that have proven track records.
Add to that the point that the biggest names will only ever go to the biggest clubs because only they can afford them and you then have what West Ham will be facing – the ‘B’ list.
You have to admire their ambition and their determination and many of the supporters in claret and blue will be dreaming of big players donning the famous shirt, however, West Ham aren’t in the big time yet and so list ‘B’ will have to be their reality.
The Hammers have been linked with Carlos Bacca. If you believe what you read, and you shouldn’t always, then West Ham have already made a firm bid, but are a few £million short of his current side’s own valuation. It’s true that the Colombian has an impressive record, but at almost 30, is he worth big bucks?
Are there better options?
Funnily enough, yes there are…
Mauro Icardi
The 23 year old Inter Milan captain, has previously been linked with a move to the Premier League, with Arsenal said to be interested in his services. With 16 goals scored last season (two fewer than Bacca), Icardi would command a fee of over £30m, but due to his personal situation, he has been left out of the current Argentine squad for the Copa America Centenario.
Cedric Bakambu
The DR Congo International is a long shot, but West Ham like those kind of players. The Villarreal striker hit 12 league goals, 20 in all competitions, last season and is a player under the radar at the moment. Signed for €7m from Bursaspor, he was a sizeable investment for the La Liga side, but their gamble paid off. The summer signing wasted little time proving his worth, scoring a brace against Espanyol in his first home game in Spain. His blistering pace and knack for finding goals has made him a hero with the Yellow Submarine’s fans, and he could be a name worth looking at for bigger clubs. Transfermarkt value the African at £9m. Worth a risk?
Vincent Janssen
2015/16 was a sensational year for the young striker from AZ Alkmaar who not only came out as the Eredivisie’s leading scorer, but is now a full Netherlands international. Janssen keeps the ball well with his back to goal and knows how to position himself, while he is also quick and makes the right movements in the final third. He is the type of striker that defenders dislike as he puts pressure on them and overall he works hard without the ball on behalf of his team. His contract at the AFAS Stadion lasts until 2019, but a number of clubs are surely queuing up for the 21-year-old.
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Wissam Ben Yedder
West Ham looked at Ben Yedder last summer, but the 25-year-old is expected to leave Toulouse this time around after bagging 22 goals in 38 games last season. Toulouse are trying to tie Ben Yedder down to a new contract, with his current deal set to expire in June 2017, but given that he may have just one year left on his contract come the summer, it is reported that Ben Yedder could be snapped up for just £8m. An under-21 player, he is yet to break into the full French team.
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Jonathan Calleri
The 22-year-old striker who made his name at Boca Juniors and is now playing for Brazil’s Sao Paolo is seen as a rising star in Argentinian football. His ownership could be a problem as it would bring in the third party issue once again – he is owned by an investment company – however, Calleri will be granted an Italian passport this summer, as he qualifies via his grandparents. This will mean he can move to the Premier League without any need for a work permit.
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