Every transfer window West Ham are linked with hundreds of players, some come to fruition whilst most are wildly off the mark. Here we will look ahead to some players worth keeping an eye on in the coming months as targets the hammers could look to in the summer transfer window.
Abdallah Sima
Player Profile: Position Striker, Age 19, Nationality Senegalese, Current Team SK Slavia Prague
Games Played: 11 Goals: 9 Assists: 3
It comes with no surprise that throughout January the name ‘Sima’ kept being brought up as a possible striker target for West Ham. With David Moyes having already successfully negotiated deals to bring in players Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal from Slavia, Sima could be the next player targeted as the club continues to look for the elusive 20 goals per season striker.
With Arsenal also heavily following the player’s development and fans touting him as the next ‘Thierry Henry’ what is it that would make this a possibly very exciting addition to the West Ham attack?
Three players could improve the West Ham squad here is a look at bolstering the striking options as well as an interesting midfield option.
At the age of just 19, Sima has already struck 9 goals and 3 assists in only 11 appearances with Slavia and looks far from finished for the season. Blessed with electric fast pace and an ability to glide past players with ease, Sima also stands at 6ft 1in and has been known for scoring plenty of headed goals, something Moyes will want in any striker as the hammers currently top the charts for most goals scored from set-pieces in the Premier League.
The only area of concern would be the physicality of Sima and whether he would be able to be strong enough to play against some of the worlds best defences. However, for a player still so young and clearly very talented, is this worth the gamble?
Adam Hlozek
Player Profile: Position Striker, Age 18, Nationality Czech, Current Team AC Sparta Prague
Games Played: 7 Goals Scored: 4 Assists: 6
Another Czech star anyone? Adam Hlozek is a player certainly to keep an eye out for. The youngster is currently sidelined due to a metatarsal fracture but before this was starting to display just how much potential he may have. But why already is Hlozek being wildly touted as a possible superstar?
Finishing ability, flair, determination, teamwork and like Sima stands at 6ft 1in, Hlozek maybe David Moyes dream signing carrying all the attributes that he appears to look for in a player prior to signing them. Having already scored 4 goals and gotten 6 assists in only 7 matches, it is no wonder many clubs are following his development closely.
There are not seemingly many weaknesses to Hlozek game other than occasional poor decision making but this is something that can be easily managed and in a team where discipline is key, Hlozek could truly thrive.
He can play anywhere across the front 3 and can also play in the number 10 role offering Moyes a dynamic player which is something he has always liked when scouting for new talent.
How much the player would cost remains to be seen, also whether he will return around March time from his injury the same player is what any scouting club will want to see first before making any move to sign him.
Alex Kral
Player Profile: Position Defensive Midfielder, Age 22, Nationality Czech, Current Team Spartak Moscow Games Played: 19 Assists: 3
Taking a step away from strikers, for now, West Ham are also lacking in central midfielders currently with only Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek and Mark Noble the senior players who can fill the position, the latter being more commonly used these days as a late substitution when Moyes side are trying to see a game out.
Jesse Lingard has recently joined the club on a 6-month loan deal and could perhaps drop into central midfield but has been brought in to further boost the hammers attack. So why Alex Kral?
Like Hlozek, Kral has reportedly already come with the recommendation of his Czech teammate Tomas Soucek. After watching Coufal performances this season, it has many fans touting the West Ham goal-scoring midfielder as ‘Agent Soucek’ or ‘Agent Potato Salad’ and this is certainly one to watch for a possible summer move.
Kral certainly fits the mould of a classic no-nonsense robust central defensive midfielder, and having already played 14 times at International level, he will bring added experience despite only being 22-years-old.
Known for being very comfortable in tight areas of the pitch, breaking up play and occasionally driving from defence into attack, the West Ham faithful would be hoping Kral is brought in as direct competition to Rice and Soucek and not as a replacement.
Although having not registered a goal in the league for Spartak Moscow this season, Moyes would certainly be looking to add him to the aerial threat in the opposition box from set-pieces.
So would these three players be well suited to the famous claret and blue of West Ham or should the club scout talent closer to home? Let us know your thoughts.