West Ham United transfer update as Irons watch AZ Alkmaar striker Vangelis Pavlidis hit hat-trick
West Ham United are one of several Premier League clubs to have watched Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis, according to 90min.
The website reported on Monday (23 October) that the Hammers were present to see the AZ Alkmaar forward score a hat-trick against Heerenveen on Friday (20 October) having monitored his “impressive performances” so far this season.
Pavlidis is currently the joint top goalscorer in the Eredivisie, alongside former Hammers target Santiago Gimenez, and technical director Tim Steidten is hoping to bolster David Moyes’ striking options as the Irons are currently relying on both Michail Antonio and Danny Ings in attack.
The 24-year-old is also capable of playing out wide and Moyes is keen to add another left-sided option to his ranks at the London Stadium, therefore the Greek forward has joined Serhou Guirassy and Karim Konate on West Ham’s shortlist for potential forward options.
“Long-term targets” Hugo Ekitike and Adam Hlozek remain potential options and Brentford have also joined the Irons to keep tabs on Pavlidis in recent weeks as he continues to impress in the Eredivisie.
Striker move
West Ham certainly need to add another striker to their ranks in the January transfer window and that has been clear throughout the season as the Hammers were very keen to bolster their forward options during the summer window.
For whatever reason, they were unable to bring an out-and-out centre-forward to the London Stadium and so far the goals of Jarrod Bowen have ensured that Moyes hasn’t been made to regret not adding another option to compete with Ings and Antonio.
But the former Hull City man has been streaky in front of goal throughout his career so far and it would be naive of the Irons to assume that he would be able to be the man to fire them into the European places of the Premier League this season.
What should be a relief for Hammers supporters is the fact that Steidten and Moyes clearly have several different options in mind for when the transfer window opens once again, with plenty of different targets from a variety of different leagues on West Ham’s radar.
Pavlidis is a proper goal scorer and that is what the Irons squad is lacking. Assuming a deal could be agreed for a reasonably sensible fee, this would be a move that would make plenty of sense in January.
In other West Ham news, Jermaine Jenas has slammed Lucas Paqueta’s performance against Aston Villa