Rumours are circulating today that West Ham are ready to listen for offers for both Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho.
The whispers come as the club search for a high profile striker ahead of the new season, after having struggled in front of goal in the last campaign. The club’s top scorer was Michail Antonio with 9, which is extremely disappointing – not on Michail’s part as he was excellent – but seeing firstly he spent a chunk of the season out injured, but mostly because he played as a right-back for the majority of it too.
The need for a striker is obvious. However, to sell both of the club’s main attacking options too seems ludicrous. Sell one, yes. Sell both, no.
But who to sell? For me, as it should be for you, the answer is very clear.
Since arriving at West Ham for then a club record fee of £15 million, Andy Carroll has ultimately failed to deliver. While he cannot be condemned for his desire (and his over-head kicking ability of course) when it comes to goalscoring and ability, the big man does not have what it takes to lead the line for the Hammers. 30 goals in 5 seasons, that is 6 a year, is not good enough, regardless of injury problems. Add to that that Slaven Bilic’s side turn significantly more one dimensional with Carroll in the side, and I would be happy to see him leave the London Stadium this summer.
Diafra Sakho, however, tells a slightly different story. The Senegal striker has been plagued with injury since his arrival at West Ham, even more so than Carroll, but has still managed to find the net 20 times in 54 appearances in Claret and Blue. Many of those were from the bench. In his only real ‘full’ season for the club in 14/15, he managed 10 in 23 top flight appearances, and 14 for the season – a solid record.
Big, strong and aerial presence – just like Carroll – Sakho is the target man the club want, but also so much more than that. His ability on the ball, distribution and running in behind all supersede the Englishman.
As a club with a record of signing poor attackers of the years, Sakho can be considered an exception to that rule, and you cannot help but feel that if he was to stay fit he could be the man to fire in the goals for the club, or at the very least be a good second option.
Keep Sakho. Sell Carroll. Do you agree?
