OPINION
West Ham United are growing ever closer to signing striker Lucas Perez from Arsenal, with his medical expected to be today, according to ESPN reporter Eduardo Fdez-Abascal on Twitter.
However, the Hammers have made a mistake in pursuing the Gunners’ forward, as they should have swooped for Issac Kiese Thelin instead.
As confirmed on their official Twitter account, the 6″2 [Transfermarkt] frontman has joined Bayer Leverkusen on loan from Belgian outfit Anderlecht.
TRANSFER UPDATE @IKieseThelin has joined the Werkself on loan!
Welcome to Leverkusen, Isaac! pic.twitter.com/dFFvfU97fs
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) August 7, 2018
Perez has only managed to muster up eight goals while on loan at La Liga side Deportivo La Coruna last season, whereas the Swedish international netted an impressive tally of 19 goals in 39 games last season.
That is a large difference in goals, and if the Irons saw that statistic, they would be kicking themselves for not swooping for the prolific forward much sooner.
His goal record would have been greatly appreciated at the London Stadium, especially as current strikers Javier Hernandez and Marko Arnautovic have not had the best goal counts recently.
West Ham needed a regular, reliable goal scorer like Thelin, but they have not got that in the shape of Perez.
It is arguable that the attacker did not have the opportunity to show what he could do at Arsenal, but he was given another shot to prove himself whilst on loan in Spain.
He did not manage to do that, whereas Thelin demonstrated that he has a clinical eye for goal.
The Hammers have conducted some excellent business in this transfer window, but unfortunately they have let themselves down in the last stretch by pouncing for Perez.
With a platform like the Premier League, the 26-year-old would have excelled, and he may have even increased his goal tally by playing with creative players like Felipe Anderson.
