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Striker pick: Shinji Okazaki or Wilfried Bony for West Ham?

By Adam Smith

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 27: Wilfried Bony of Swansea City in action during The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Notts County and Swansea City at Meadow Lane on January 27, 2018 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 27: Wilfried Bony of Swansea City in action during The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Notts County and Swansea City at Meadow Lane on January 27, 2018 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) /
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SWANSEA, WALES – JANUARY 17: Wilfried Bony of Swansea City celebrates after he scores his sides second goal during The Emirates FA Cup Third Round Replay between Swansea City and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Liberty Stadium on January 17, 2018 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
SWANSEA, WALES – JANUARY 17: Wilfried Bony of Swansea City celebrates after he scores his sides second goal during The Emirates FA Cup Third Round Replay between Swansea City and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Liberty Stadium on January 17, 2018 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) /

Wilfried Bony

This is my pick for West Ham’s recipient of a pay-as-you-play, 6-month deal (take him to January). Bony has been a massively underwhelming player in his Premier League career, outside of his time at Manchester City under Manuel Pellegrini.

In his first season with Pellegrini at Manchester City in 2014/15, Bony scored 11 goals and added three assists in 30 Premier League matches. His following season, Bony netted just four Premier League goals in 26 matches. A calf injury compacted with knee injuries kept him out of the line up for 15 matches which seemingly contributed to his drop off in form.

That was it for Bony and City, as the Ivorian striker was off to Stoke City on loan. He declined a move to China to fight for his position, but a run-in with Mark Hughes found him left out of the squad for the majority of the season. Bony was off to Swansea for the next two seasons where he would score three goals over that time.

Bony has skill, that is for sure, but what does it take to get him motivated? A reunion with Pellegrini, the manager he has the most success under in the Prem, could be the boost needed, as it was with Samir Nasri. He is 30-years-old which isn’t all that attractive, but that puts him three years younger than Okazaki. He’s big, physical, and causes problems in the air for the opposition.

West Ham is set for intriguing international break for the present and future. dark. Next

There they are, my picks for West Ham’s new free agent striker signing. They’re rather obvious, but I would imagine Pellegrini would opt for these two players with Premier League experience over unknowns of a similar age group. The club are opting for young, exciting players moving forward but options are limited for free agents in that regard and the Hammers need some back-up stat!