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West Ham United left 'short' after failure to complete 'ideal' attacking signing - Paul Brown
West Ham are “short of a striker” this season and “missed a trick” by not signing long-term target Youssef En-Nesyri this summer, according to Paul Brown.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT (23 September) the former Daily Star journalist said the Sevilla forward would have been an “ideal fit” at the London Stadium, and while Michail Antonio’s early-season form is a “positive” the squad really needs one more.
The Irons were thought to be after a “bumper” double-deal for the Moroccan international along with Mohammed Kudus at one point during the transfer window, but while they successfully landed the Ghanian they once again didn’t bring in En-Nesyri.
Brown said: “I do think West Ham are short of a striker. I know Antonio started the season pretty well. It looks like he’s got some life in him yet, which is positive for them.
“But I would liked to have seen a little bit more competition for his place, and I think they potentially missed a trick not going for En-Nesyri.
“I think he would have been an ideal fit and someone who could have given them something slightly different in that position. I’d have been quite interested to see how he got on.”
Another window passes
It currently doesn’t feel like too much of an issue given the start to the campaign West Ham have made, with Antonio’s performances an important part of that.
En-Nesyri has been on David Moyes’ list of targets for two years now [Marca, 8 July 2021] without getting a deal done, so it is starting to look like he might be a player who never does arrive.
Now that Jamaica international Antonio appears to have put doubts over his future at the club to bed with a new contract [West Ham Football, 18 September] there is less of a pressing need to find a new forward, but in a perfect world the Hammers would certainly have another since Gianluca Scamacca was sold.
Kudus himself could be the man to lead the line if necessary, having done so at times for Ajax, but wouldn’t be the obvious fit.
It appeared that Hugo Ekitike of Paris Saint-Germain actually the preference as the hours ticked down on deadline day, but a move for the young Frenchman also proved to be impossible.
Over the course of a long season the manager is likely to need numbers but for now he will have to keep his fingers crossed that Antonio stays fit and in form.
In other West Ham news, a pundit has declared his wish for one player the Irons did sign to have gone to a rival club.