West Ham to answer ‘fascinating’ transfer question in January
Andy Stevenson believes it will be “fascinating” to see whether Julen Lopetegui dips into the transfer market to sign a striker for his West Ham United team in the upcoming January window.
The Hammers have already tried to solve their striker woes by adding Niclas Fullkrug to their ranks in the summer but, until recently, he’s been ruled out due to injury.
However, since his return to action, he’s had very little impact on the way West Ham’s games have panned out with BBC journalist Stevenson left demanding the German to step up his game.
“It will be fascinating to see whether Julen Lopetegui feels he has to dip into the transfer market for another striker in January,” he wrote on the BBC Sport website.
“In the long-term absence of Michail Antonio, Niclas Fullkrug was handed his first Premier League start of the season against Brighton, but he barely got a kick and was substituted after 57 minutes.
“The man who starred for Germany at Euro 2024, before signing for the Hammers for a reported £27m, may well be short of fitness but he will need to step up quickly if West Ham are to improve their form and move up the table.
“Jarrod Bowen can play through the middle and Crysencio Summerville probably feels he should be given more starts, but the onus will surely be on Fullkrug to start making an impact soon”.
Niclas Fullkrug has to prove his worth to Julen Lopetegui and the West Ham United fans
Of all the Hammers’ summer arrivals, the arrival of Fullkrug was arguably the one that West Ham’s fans were most excited to welcome.
For the past couple of seasons, West Ham have struggled with getting their strikers firing as both Michail Antonio and Danny Ings failed to bag 10 goals between them last term.
This season, things have been somewhat different and while the German hasn’t been given that much of a chance due to the time he’s spent sidelined, it feels like unless they start scoring some goals, things will only start to get harder for Lopetegui and his men.
The former Borussia Dortmund man may well be 31 years old but after the season he had for the Bundesliga outfit last term and the performance he put on in the Euros, it’s evident that there’s still a goal scorer within him.
Which, at the moment, is exactly what the Hammers need to fulfil their promise of earning European football this term.
But if they aren’t confident he can find his shooting boots it may be they go back into the market this winter.
In other West Ham news, an update has been shared on the Hammers’ pursuit of Fikayo Tomori.
For more West Ham news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.