OPINION
West Ham United are on the hunt for one final deal to round off a brilliant summer of big spending under new boss Manuel Pellegrini, but the club could save money by looking closer to home.
As reported by club insider ExWHUemployee, the Hammers are eyeing up a deal for Corinthians forward Angel Romero, with Pellegrini and director of football Mario Husillos both well aware of his talents.
As I am not on radio show this week here is one forward we are very keen on: Angel Romero,26 year old striker for Corinthians. Former team mate of Fabian Balbuena and a Paraguay international.Twin brother of Oscar Romero. Pellegrini and Husillos very aware of him. ⚒
— ExWHUEmployee (@ExWHUEmployee) July 23, 2018
It has been previously reported by Claret and Hugh that Pellegrini is on the hunt for another striker as his final deal of the summer following Andy Carroll’s injury setback.
And, while the hunt for a new striker therefore makes sense for the club as they form a squad capable of challenging for Europe, there is actually no need to spend any more money this summer.
The Hammers have a ready made back-up striker already waiting in the wings: Toni Martinez.
The young Spaniard is not the most prolific forward, but there is obvious talent there, and he is a perfectly good option for Pellegrini as a back-up.
In all honesty this back-up striker is not likely to get much game time, with Chicharito and Marko Arnautovic the clear favourites to start up front, so promoting Martinez should not cause too many issues for the Hammers.
Martinez has always impressed at youth level for the Hammers, and nine goals in 13 appearances in Premier League 2 last season shows the kind of form he has been in.
A loan spell at Real Valladolid in the second half of the campaign provided key first-team minutes, with the 6ft 2in forward [Transfermarkt] netting once in 11 appearances for the Segunda Division side.
The 21-year-old is also a popular figure amongst fans, who are well aware of his form in the youth set-up, and promoting him to the first-team in place of Carroll would be a move that is welcomed across the club.
It is also a move which would save the club several million pounds in a summer of huge spending, and that will come in handy down the line.
