Wilfried Bony, Simone Zaza and Loic Remy All Targets For West Ham
Like London buses, you wait all window for West Ham to sign a striker and we might get two at once. ExWhuEmployee confirmed that the club were looking at three potential striker targets, with one very close to signing. We covered Bony the other day, but it appears two have moved ahead of him in the target list.
Simeone Zaza
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The target that looks closest to signing is Juventus’ Simone Zaza, who is an Italian national team player. He is a decent striker, but has struggled to get much game time at the Italian Champions who have some serious talent at their disposal in the form of Dybala, Mandzukic and now Higuain.
At 25 he is one of the younger targets we have been after, but still has a decent record. He has scored around 1 goal in every 3 games at previous clubs, including 8 in 24 at Juventus. Given he was often off the bench, that’s not a bad return at all.
West Ham are not too keen on shelling out this window, but will look to get Zaza on loan at first. The Hammers have a good relationship with Juventus and the club hope to use that to their advantage. An intial loan with an obligation to buy, if certain clauses are met, is something that Bilic and the board are keen on. A total fee of around $25m is expected.
It has to be said, however, that fan reaction has been mixed:
Zaza on a permanent would be unbelievable. The guy is class. Juve wouldn't spend £25m on him if he was bad.
— West Ham Transfers (@westhamtransfer) August 24, 2016
When people ask me if I'd like West Ham to sign Zaza. pic.twitter.com/uFEcDFf3YO
— West Ham Fan Zone (@WHUFCFZ) August 25, 2016
NOOOOOOOOOOO https://t.co/KHIC8pgORu
— Evan Kenneth Jones (@EvanCoolJ) August 24, 2016
Loic Remy
A repeat target for the board, Loic Remy has been linked with the club again. Chelsea are not too keen on having him at the club after the £30m+ signing of Michy Batshuayi, and with his injury record they do not feel he is a reliable enough back up striker.
The club are not keen on making him the No.1 striker because we already have our share of injuries. However if they were able to replace Valencia or Sakho with him they would be keen.
Valencia seems the closest to being able to leave the club due to his fitness, Sakho failed a medical at West Brom as is still apparently on the road to recovery. There are a couple of Championship sides looking at the Ecuadorian, but not many that can pay the fee.
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Aston Villa had a bid rejected and are thought to be very keen, and if he did go then Remy would become an option. The other issue would be Crystal Palace. The South Londoners are also interested in Remy, and may move first. Because we have to wait to bring him in, we are disadvantaged.
If we could bring both Zaza and Remy in I would consider it a brilliant transfer window for the club. We would have strengthened the squad and picked up some much needed firepower.