West Ham could look to transfer bad boy Joshua Maja

With options thin and money even thinner, West Ham will need to look for bargain buys to strengthen their team. Within David Moyes’ transfer criteria, Joshua Maja could be a target.

Striker isn’t the paramount need for West Ham in the uncertain transfer market, but with only two senior strikers, Sebastien Haller and Albian Ajeti, on the books a bargain buy is potentially an option for the Hammers and David Moyes for some added squad depth.

Former Sunderland and current Bordeaux striker Joshua Maja could be the man for Moyes’ revamped team. The London-born Nigerian striker has been one of a few players to gain notoriety from the Netflix documentary Sunderland ’till I die, after scoring 15 goals in 24 matches in League Two in 2018/19 in front of the film crew.

At just 21-years-old, aborad in France, and built on a lower league young career in England, however, red flags have been raised over his commitment, attitude, and off-pitch antics that saw him force a move away from Sunderland.

Maja has struggled for consistency with Bordeaux in Ligue 1 this season, nabbing just six goals and two assists in 21 league matches, while also adding two goals and one assist in Cup action as well. That being said, after coming off the bench and grabbing just one assist in his first 11 matches, Maja netted four goals and two assists in just three matches once he was made a starter.

The player dichotomy is there; a skilled goal scorer who has off-field issues that make him a liability in a lockerroom and around the club. Despite this warring perspective, Maja fits Moyes’ under-25, English, and from the French or English league.

IF he were to be pursued, his transfermarkt.com transfer value is £5.67, which is a steal and could potentially be lower if Bordeaux need to offload players to recoup Ligue 1 cancellation losses. At West Ham, it would be a massive vote of confidence in himself if Moyes believes he can reign in the young, unruly striker.