West Ham United cult hero Marlon Harewood has claimed that the club needs to bring in another striker in January.
Marko Arnautovic has been operating as an auxiliary frontman this season, while Javier Hernandez has been out with illness and Andy Carroll through injury.
And Harewood believes up top is where the club need to strengthen: “I think they’ve bought really well but it’s keeping them, because they are top class players as we’re seeing,” he told LOVE SPORT Radio. “Arnautovic needs some help, another striker.
“Andy Carroll’s back fit so that will be a massive plus for the lads. So I would have said a striker, in that sense, just to put pressure on all the strikers to try and do well.”
⚽️ | WHAT DO WEST HAM NEED IN JANUARY?
Former @WestHamUtd striker Marlon Harewood (@Mazer_9) joined @mediaAaron & @WestHamWorld and discussed what his former side need in January to push up the table.
Find out what he said below.
Thoughts, #WestHam fans?#WHUFC #COYI pic.twitter.com/EegEb47YWG
— Love Sport Radio (@lovesportradio) November 20, 2018
OPINION
Harewood is spot on, here. The Hammers look pretty strong in most areas of the pitch after their excellent summer of recruitment, but they remain a little short on quality up front. Obviously Arnautovic is a top, top player but his future with the club appears uncertain, as does back up front man Javier Hernandez’s. Then you have Carroll who simply cannot be relied upon to stay fit. So a new centre forward is certainly needed if West Ham are to build on the progress they have already made under manager Manuel Pellegrini. There are other areas that need strengthening too, of course, such as left back and central midfield, but up front is a bit of a mystery in the long term and so the club should be looking at bringing someone in in January, as Harewood says. You get the sense that the Hammers aren’t far off being a top class team, and perhaps a high level frontman in January will tip them over that edge.
