OPINION
Things have gone a little bit awry for West Ham in the transfer window in recent weeks.
After getting out of the blocks quickly and snapping up David Martin and Rodrigo, the Hammers then did well to land Spanish midfielder Pablo Fornals, adding some real quality to their midfield.
Since then, however, activity has been scarce, and increasingly it looks as if the Hammers have missed out on principle striking target Maxi Gomez to Valencia, as reported by the Guardian.
That’s a big blow for the Irons, and one that will certainly lead to some serious reevaluation at the club in the coming days.
Naturally, a host of alternative targets are being mentioned but journalists and pundits alike, but one that is particularly eye-catching is that of Atletico Madrid forward Diego Costa.
According to the former Hammers’ boss Sam Allardyce, the 24 cap Spanish international could be the ideal man to fire West Ham into European contention.
Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: “It doesn’t matter about the salary – pay it. If the fee’s not that great, the salary is what you have to pay cause he [Costa] is a goalscorer.
“You reap the rewards. If he can get West Ham in the top half of the table and pushing on that little bit farther, he could get them into Europe.
“He’s definitely the sort of player who would be a massive hit with the West Ham fans.”
These are big words from Allardyce, but he might have a point.
Costa has hardly set La Liga alight recently, scoring just twice in 14 matches last season, but bad players don’t become bad players over night, and playing in a side built around him, catered to getting the best out of him, he could still have an awful lot to offer.
Of his average of 1.3 shots on target per 90 minutes in Spain last season, Costa managed 0.8 on target [Whoscored], and he clearly still has the natural finishing streak that made hims such a hit during his time at Chelsea.
At 30, he isn’t getting any younger, and he may not be the same player he was a couple of years ago, but he is a big character, and given the right backing, he could be a real player for the Hammers.
Allardyce has certainly made worse suggestions.
