It is clear that what West Ham have been lacking over the past decade is a 15-20 goal a season striker.
The Hammers have made numerous inquiries have into the availability of numerous strikers (well, according to the “in the know” agents). The main rumours that are seen on Twitter every day are primarily about Andy Carroll, Wilfried Bony, Arouna Kone and Gary Hooper, but over the last few days it has been leaked that Chelsea are willing to let Demba Ba leave for a fee of around £7 million, should they sign their main targets Hulk and Edinson Cavani.
Ba was a revelation in the Premier league for both West Ham and Newcastle United but has underperformed since he joined the Blues in January. The Senegalese striker joined the Hammers in 2011 and scored 7 goals in 12 games, but unfortunately the rest of the team, other than Robert Green and Scott Parker, were playing poorly at the time and we were relegated. Sadly, a clause in his contract allowed him to leave the club on a free transfer. Many fans at Upton Park still talk very highly of Demba Ba and I believe that many would love to see him back playing in claret and blue.
West Ham play with one upfront which Demba Ba has proved he can do well at Newcastle, before Cisse arrived in January 2012, Ba played upfront alone and scored 15 goals, he did the same in the 2012-13 season for Newcastle too as Cisse was playing as a winger at the time, before leaving for Chelsea he had 13 goals in 20 games. His strength, pace and the ability to be in the right place at the right time, make him a tough opponent for any defender in the league, a key reason West Ham may make an offer, is his aerial ability, with Jarvis and hopefully Nathan Redmond/Scott Sinclair on the wings our front 3 could cause a lot of troubles to our opponents.
The main issue West Ham may face, similar to the Andy Carroll deal is that the player may not want to be seen as a big money flop at a large club, however his time at West Ham before may sway his decision back in our favour.
Another problem with Ba is the fact that he dips off later on in the season, in the past two years he has only scored 3 Premier League goals in 29 games after New Year ’s Day. But it could argued that this is because he faced heavy competition from an inform striker Papiss Cisse and also because he struggled to find his feet at Chelsea.
Out of the strikers that we have been linked with I believe a bid for Demba Ba would be a great move if he wants to join us, as the Carroll deal seems increasingly unlikely by the day, and also the fact that Bony and Hooper are yet to prove themselves in the Premier League. Whether all the fans would welcome him back with open arms I am not 100% sure, but after a few games I believe he would silence his critics should we re-sign him.
I am intrigued to know why you think the Carroll deal seams increasingly unlikely. He’s on holiday in LA, by all accounts with several West Ham players. Nothing is going to happen until he gets back. At the moment, Liverpool are paying him £80k pw to sun himself. Why would G&S want to do that? David Gold said on twitter that the deal is about 75-25 in favour. Having said that Ba for 7m or so would be a good shout. We need more than one striker anyway.
Andy Carroll is about to sign (commit to West Ham anyway he cant sign until 1st July unless West Ham want to pay his wages now). Demba Ba is not consistant enough imo and not on Sam Alladyce’s radar as far as I know? You just know it’s going to be Peter Crouch as Carlton Coles replacement 🙂
I believe Andy Carroll will finally sign when West Han United are to officially release the new kit!! AC signing wearing the new shirt will be better publicity & like Ray The Hammer said why would we want to pay for him for his months holiday, lets save nearly half a million quid!!
Very long way from the truth.
I have it from someone in the know double signing Friday Andy Carroll and Tom Ince.
No doubt on big Andy, don’t believe for one moment that we are getting ince! Would be a great signing though
AC is looking more likely, and let’s face it, there’s not exactly a queue of clubs scratching at L’pool’s door.
But Tom Ince? Really Rickeythehammer?? Not heard that rumour. He’d be a fine addition, though would he come to us after all the grief we’ve given his old chap? I do hope so, but find it hard to believe.
who told ya that m8
No way will tom ince sign for west ham ..he hates us almost as much as we hate his dad
I can top that inside information carrol in crouch in and Defoe 100 % that’s how strike force next year
If we had the money and if he would be happy to come back, I can think of no one better to be the 2nd striker.
However, we are not going to pay 7m on top of the Carroll fee and he is not going to come to us to play 2nd fiddle, if he would come back to us at all. He would fit nicely in to Sams system and almost certainly be more prolific than big Andy, but wouldn’t do the other things that Andy does for the team. Very good player, if there are a section of fans unhappy with him due to leaving I think it’s unwarranted! He’ll be an excellent signing for someone, hopefully abroad rather than 1 of our rivals
Inside info,from the brother of a 1st team player,Carroll deal almost done,ambrosini almost,subject to medical,and two more,apparently offer in for Bony,even if Carroll signs
Good times ahead we have had large investment but it can’t be announced till stadium 100% under way 30 million to spend COYI
how do you know thomas ince is signing
From somebody who works at west ham, bony definitely not on the list. Should hear this friday
defoe no chance
We are in for Defoe damba ba and bony don’t forget we need at least 3 strikers crouch is 100% one of the above 3
Nailed on insider info: Bale, Messi and Harry Potter to sign at the weekend. COYI
That suits me COYI
I don’t believe ince, Defoe and certainly not bony! I will also be incredibly surprised if we spend anything near 30m, 20m tops I reckon and that includes the 12m up front for big Andy. Most if these rumours probably from twitter, I’ll ask my 2 seven year old girls who we are signing this year, that’s probably a more reliable source!
If I win £110m on the euro millions tomorrow, I’ll invest 30 or 40m in West Ham but only if they promise not to buy Crouch, Defoe or Darren Bent.
And they bring back the Hammerettes.
From the most RELIABLE source this is how it’s going to transpire over the net month or so.
AC- will sign after July 1st so stop talking about it.
Ambrosini- Will sign, his knowledge and big game experience is second to none.
Ravel Morrison- not being loaned out again, despite interest. He will work closely with Ambrosini
Wil Bony- 11mil offered, his arrogance and wage demands will scupper deal.
Ince- no chance
Demba Ba- wage demands will scupper anything offered
Scott Sinclair- will go elsewhere looking for Euro
Joey Obrien HAS to go
As does george mcCartney
And if WHU are looking for a CB to challenge Reid/Tomkins/Collins..
Look no further then Kouyatè
AC is not worth the reported 100k a week it is rumoured he wants or th 15m price tag and with FFP coming in we would be better off paying 7m for Ba and offering him 100k a week and have 8m to put towards another striker because we will need at least 2 recognised because at this moment in time we have none!
Gary Hooper is my preferred choice although that is mainly because I will be able to have my own surname on the back of my shirt! ha ha
I like the way we are linked and favoured to get ba . We sign Carroll and let it be known to Chelsea that we would pay 7 million if he fits in and plays . The team would look good if we get Zaha on loan or buy Sinclair or redmond and if we Ambrsosini and a cb ie sane I’d be looks for euro football in the new stadium
I have seen wilfried bony play last season as i live in holland .I think he would be a great signing and would be over the moon if west ham pulled it off.I think myself he,s looking for a bigger team but fingers crossed.