Football, as we know it, is a simple game, keep it tight at the back and be cut throat in front of goal and nine times out of 10 you will win the game.
It is for that reason alone that the Hammers are on the continuous hunt for attacking options to aid Sam Allardyce’s main aim of outscoring last season’s goal tally.
Last season the Irons were left woefully short up front last year, with Andy Carroll missing the majority of the season and an unfit Carlton Cole returning the Hammers knew that they had to recruit at least two new forwards to avoid similar issues this time around.
So far, Allardyce and his recruitment team have signed Enner Valencia and Mauro Zarate to bolster his front line but the Irons are still hoping to secure one more forward as well as an attack minded midfielder to add further competition.
The East End club have been linked with Sunderland’s Connor Wickham in recent days as well as Metz forward Diafra Sakho, in what can only be described as an on/off deal. It is thought that Sakho left in tears after a deal to sign him was wiped from under his feet at the last minute as the club pursued other targets.
But reading between the lines of Sam Allardyce quotes before the weekend clash, it would suggest the Hammers may well make Sakho’s dream come true after all.
Allardyce said: “Yes I think so. We’ll definitely get something done, but the quality of the player is the most important thing for me because the quality of that player must come in and be available to be used immediately, or certainly in the near future. It maybe that there’s a little settling it period because it’s looking more like that player’s going to come in from abroad.”
For me, it wouldn’t be the end of the world if the Hammers failed to secure a forward, it would force Big Sam to play Elliot Lee, a forward who has had a belter of a pre-season scoring nine goals as well as setting up the winner in the first team’s only win of pre-season over Sampdoria.
Lee is a player who has great promise and certainly has an eye for goal consistently scoring goals through his youth career. He may not be built like a typical ‘Sam Allardyce frontman’ but his emergence would certainly endear Allardyce to the West Ham faithful. Although you can almost guarantee Allardyce will play it safe and start Carlton Cole on Saturday against Spurs.
So, what does the next few weeks have in store the Hammers in the transfer market? I have no doubt that the Irons will secure a new forward, who? And when? are the real questions. After the way David Sullivan and David Gold treated Sakho and Metz the club may struggle to secure him, Sullivan likes to delve into the loan market with Marco Borriello last season, Wellington Paulista the year before it would come as no surprise if a loan striker was to join.
Sam Allardyce has been heavily linked with a move for former West Bromwich Albion player Morgan Amalfitano and according to French press the Marseille midfielder could join the Hammers very soon. A move that would no doubt please the West Ham faithful his flair would put continued pressure on Kevin Nolan whose poor pre-season has left the Hammers fans worry that he may be reaching the twilight of his career.
The end of August is going to be an exciting one, with Spurs and Sheffield United on the horizon and the end of the transfer window coming to an end, be sure to be on your toes as its going to be full of ups and downs as usual.
Come on you Irons!
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