Just when Niklas Volkrug looked like he was gaining some momentum in a West Ham shirt, he was cursed.
West Ham's strikers are simply not allowed to flourish.
The Hammers' string of modern-day transfer failures means they are still reliant on Michail Antonio heading into the 2024/25 season with star right-winger Jarrod Bowen as a contingency plan at the top. The 31-year-old Folkrug was the next man identified as a goal-scoring reliever in the summer, but a hamstring injury means he is likely to be a player. He won't be around for the next three months After five appearances and two goals.
With Antonio out indefinitely and Bowen out with a broken foot, new coach Graham Potter is starved for options.
whether West Ham Choosing a short-term or long-term fix this month is not the point. Potter needs a striker now. Here are four potential options in the January transfer window.
Entering the final six months of his contract with Lille, Jonathan David, who is no stranger to transfer rumours, will be linked to any club in need of a striker.
West Ham certainly fit that bill, and the Canada international is the leading candidate potentially entering the poisoned chalice in east London.
David has been a reliable goalscorer for years in France, with his numbers having risen significantly since the 2022/23 season. The striker has scored 54 goals in his previous 88 Ligue 1 appearances. A large portion of David's strikes have come from the penalty spot, but the Canadian's ability as a professional poacher and multi-faceted striker cannot be denied.
West Ham could be the beneficiary of David's advantage, and the player's contract situation means the Premier League club will not have to spend big to bring him to the London Stadium.
If Potter wishes to acquire a knowledgeable striker Premier LeagueMaybe Ivan Ferguson is the way to go.
The new West Ham boss oversaw Ferguson's emergence at Brighton, handing the then-teenage striker his Premier League debut in February 2022. However, the Irishman's breakthrough arrived under Roberto De Zerbi.
However, Ferguson is undoubtedly a player Potter values and the striker's profile would be ideal for West Ham. He is an imposing presence capable of holding the ball and running channels, but his career at Brighton has stalled.
He has rarely caught a glimpse of the team since Fabian Horzler's appointment, with the young German coach generally preferring Joao Pedro or Jorginio Rutter up front in Danny Welbeck's enforced absence. as a result of, Brighton He could be willing to let Ferguson go out on loan this month, and would be a great short-term solution for the Irons.
Premier League clubs have had a lot of success shopping in the Championship recently, with Morgan Rogers the latest talent from the second tier to shine in the top flight.
West Ham have dipped their toes into lucrative markets of late, but perhaps they would be better off venturing into the humble roots of the Championship this month.
Latte Lath impressed last season, scoring eight goals in Middlesbrough's last six league games. This form has continued into the 2024/25 season, with the 26-year-old scoring ten goals this season, proving that his blistering streak at the conclusion of the 2023/24 season was no fluke.
His quality in 2024 has led to interest from the likes of Leeds, while Atlanta United have made a £20m bid. Would West Ham be willing to pay more than that for the Championship striker?
There have been rumors of a rift with Sean Dyche, so Calvert-Lewin could see David Moyes return to revive his career at Everton.
The striker scored two goals in the Premier League this season.
At his best, DCL is the perfect striker. He acts as an effective focal point and is also able to stretch defenses by running in behind and sneaking into the box.
However, the perfect iteration of the 27-year-old striker has barely appeared since Carlo Ancelotti was in town and Everton started the 2020/21 season as the most entertaining team in the division (which they did for a month).
In many ways, Calvert-Lewin is just like West Ham. Injury-prone and far from form, he would be strangely ideal to continue the Hammers striker's curse.
