Steidten pressure builds as West Ham rejected striker close to move
Tim Steidten is now under added pressure to supply Graham Potter with a striker for West Ham United in the transfer window.
The intensified search for a forward comes in the wake of the latest update on Mergim Berisha – the striker the Hammers reportedly turned down is now wanted by Augsburg from fellow Bundesliga side Hoffenheim (Florian Plettenberg, 17 January).
Danny Ings remains the only out-and-out striker at Potter’s disposal and despite the fact the Irons have utilised the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta in advanced roles, a number nine is very much needed at the London Stadium.
West Ham remain in the mix for a variety of frontmen, including Andre Silva, Taiwo Awoniyi and Rodrigo Muniz who have all been linked in the past few days.
Steidten under pressure to deliver at West Ham
Steidten very publicly took it upon himself to lead the board’s transfer charge last summer, exciting the West Ham fanbase with numerous high-profile recruits for an overall cost exceeding £100million.
However, under his choice of head coach in Julen Lopetegui, the season nosedived for the Hammers with questionable team selections and tactics, woeful defending and a lack of clarity in how the team should play.
Now the hope is that Potter can not only sweep up the majority of the mess left over the past few months, but also steer the East Londoners back into the top half of the Premier League by getting a tune out of the expensive arrivals.
Injuries have certainly struck hard at the London Stadium. Michail Antonio will not play again this season and potentially never again for the club in a competitive match; Niclas Fullkrug has endured rotten luck with his fitness and will be sidelined for months. A striker – potentially two strikers – should be top of the list in red ink this month.
Steidten knows the task at hand but will also be aware of the notoriety of the winter window and how difficult the market can be to navigate. The Hammers have to be aware of PSR constraints following their free-spending in the summer, and have to play this one smartly, if not glamorously.
They didn’t fancy two-cap German international Berisha – a sound enough judgement given his unconvincing goalscoring record. But they must bank on securing at least one of their ‘superior’ targets.
In other West Ham news, Paul Merson issues his prediction for the weekend contest against Crystal Palace.
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