OPINION
West Ham United boss Manuel Pellegrini is no doubt looking to prioritise the signing of a striker this summer with the futures of some of his players up in the air.
Andy Carroll will be departing when his contract ends in a few months’ time, Lucas Perez is likely to be offloaded after the dire season he has had, while Javier Hernandez’s and Marko Arnautovic’s futures still remain unclear.
Pellegrini will need to go into the next transfer window all guns blazing if he is to find the perfect forward for the Irons, and he must look no further than Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud.
The Daily Mail reported back in January that West Ham were considering a move for the France international, and they must reignite their interest in a player who could really propel them to the next level.
Giroud is on the fringes at Chelsea, and it looks to remain that way at the moment. He may not be the most prolific of strikers – he has scored 11 in total this season – but his 6ft 4in [Transfermarkt] frame more than makes up for it, providing the physical presence that could likely be lost if Arnautovic leaves.
That is a key attribute of the 32-year-old’s game, and that is just what the Hammers need. Just like Carroll, Giroud can bully defenders in the box, and draws them in to allow his teammates more freedom.
Pellegrini would surely strike gold if West Ham revisit their hunt for the Frenchman. He has the class and quality needed to transform the team into one capable of challenging for the Europa League every season, that is for sure.
It is about time that West Ham got themselves a top-quality signing, and it looks like Giroud could just be that.
