OPINION
What West Ham need right now, more than anything, is a striker.
The Hammers have the potential to kick on and really challenge for European football next season, but if they are to do that, they will need a reliable goalscorer who can lead the line effectively.
The most obvious and senior option they have right now, in the aftermath of Marko Arnautovic’s move to China, is Javier Hernandez.
But the Mexican only managed seven Premier League goals last season, and averaged just 1.5 shots per game [Whoscored].
Evidently, he needs an accomplice, perhaps even two.
You would fancy the Hammers to make a relatively big money move for one ace, but if they are smart, they should utilise the free agent market to bring in another hitman.
And that’s certainly the opinion of talkSPORT pundit Darren Gough.
Speaking on the station, he mentioned several names who could do a job in east London, but one in particular stood out.
He said: “Daniel Sturridge is available on a free.
“Now, he is a risk because of the injuries he has.”
Gough is right, on the face of it Sturridge is a risk.
The 29-year-old has had his issues with injuries, but he has been in much better shape over the past 12 months, and although he made just the two Premier League starts for Liverpool last term, that was less a reflection on his fitness, and more a reflection of the plethora of choices available to Jurgen Klopp.
More to the point, Sturridge has still got it.
Judging him per 90 minutes, as opposed to per appearance last season, the striker was hitting 3.2 shots, and making 1.4 key passes [Whoscored].
He still has plenty more to offer, for sure, and given a run in a side built around him, as it surely would be at West Ham, who knows how good he could go on to be.
