Five strikers that prove West Ham don’t need to revive Defoe interest
It has been well-documented of late that West Ham United have been keen on bringing their former star Jermain Defoe back to the club from struggling Sunderland, but their interest, according to Sky Sports, has cooled of late.
The Hammers have struggled for goals this season. Other than man of the moment, Michail Antonio, who has eight to his name (mostly headers), the club’s second top scorers are both Manuel Lanzini and Dimitri Payet, who have a measly three apiece.
Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho, Andre Ayew, Simeone Zaza and Ashley Fletcher have a whopping five goals – yes that is right, FIVE – between them all season, which is a ‘poor return’… and that’s being polite! Defoe, meanwhile, has over double that total with eleven himself.
Sunderland themselves are struggling this season, too, however, and manager David Moyes is under no illusions as to how important his main striker is to him, firmly stating that Defoe “is not for sale”.
If the Black Cats were really to part ways with the man who almost single-handedly kept them up last year and looks like he could do the same again this time around, it would surely be goodnight Premier League and hello Championship.
West Ham have shown the recent past that their desperation for a striker can lead them on a merry dance, so there’s every chance that they will be making a late move to tempt Defoe back to London, but here are FIVE better options for them…
Scott Hogan
The Hammers have already had three bids for Brentford forward Scott Hogan rejected, with his parent club waiting for West Ham to meet their valuation of £15m before they are willing to sell.
Hogan scored seven in seven at the back-end of last term for Brentford and has continued his fine form into this season having notched an impressive 14 times already. The striker has made it clear his desire is to play in the Premier League, however, you can’t help but think that at £15m, West Ham may be able to find themselves a more proven option…
Michy Batshuayi
Rumour has it that Fernando Llorente is Chelsea bound and that Michy Batshuayi’s brother, Aaron Leya Iseka, is heading to Swansea to fill his void. Antonio Conte worked with the Spaniard at Juventus and is apparently keen on bringing him to London.
Llorente in means Batshuayi out, surely. The young Belgian has struggled for playing time this season, however, Chelsea are unlikely to sell him on so quickly, so a loan move could be the perfect opportunity for him to get some Premier League game time under his belt. The Hammers should take full advantage if he does become available.
Moussa Dembele
It is always risky taking a player from the Scottish Premiership into the Premier League given the gulf in quality between the two divisions. It is quite often hit-and-miss, and for every Henrik Larsson there’s a Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink – whose name has more syllables than goals he has scored in English football.
Dembele has been in fine form for the Bhoys this season, and more impressively he has managed to replicate his showings in Scotland on the European stage too, putting in impressive performances against both Manchester City and Borussia Monchengladbach.
Daniel Sturridge
A move for Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge would certainly be an audacious one, however, it’s not completely unbelievable considering the striker’s lack of game time at Anfield.
While his attitude and proneness injury have at times been questioned, one thing that Sturridge does do is score goals… and lots of them. Throughout his career, he has always shone when the spotlight is on him and he is the main man, something he certainly would be for West Ham.
Carlos Bacca
West Ham were keen on the AC Milan striker during the summer, but the move wasn’t to be, with the Serie A star not willing to move.
Again, Bacca finds himself the Italian club’s top scorer this season having netted seven goals, so unless Milan are to invest heavily themselves this January, it is unlikely they will be happy to let go of their main goalscorer.
Hammers boss Slaven Bilic doesn’t seem to have given up hope just yet, however, and has hinted at another bid for the Rossoneri’s Colombian hit-man this January.