Despite the transfer window only ending a few weeks ago, West Ham are already being linked to multiple players ahead of the next transfer window. David Moyes has proved prudent in the transfer market, and it can be expected he will do the same in the summer.
West Ham have a good squad of players that are proving capable of challenging at the upper end of the Premier League. The Hammers currently occupy a Champions League spot after beating Tottenham Hostpur.
A good core of players is exactly what West Ham have, though if they do qualify for European football, some expansion needs to happen. The Hammers squad is one of the smallest in the Premier League, and there is a lack of depth, most notably in the striker position.
High-flying West Ham are already being touted as the destination for many players ahead of the summer transfer window.
The Hammers have been linked to many strikers since selling Sebastien Haller in January, the club will need to invest, and there are two top targets, according to rumours.
Ivan Toney – Brentford
The Brentford striker is having a brilliant season in the championship and could break the goal contribution record for the Bees. Ivan Toney has already scored 24 goals and assisted a further nine in only 30 appearances in the League.
Quick, tall, powerful and capable of playing as a lone striker, Toney would slot straight into David Moyes’ current system. The 24-year-old would be able to replicate the impact of Michail Antonio but without the constant worry of his hamstrings about to go.
The Hammers have a relationship with Brentford from the previous two transfer windows. West Ham loaned and bought Said Benrahma while sending Winston Reid on loan the other way. Tensions between the two clubs have been frayed in the past but seem to be repaired now after the loan of Ried.
The in-form striker would command a big fee and could cost the East London side upwards of £25 million. With Leicester City interested in Toney as a potential Jamie Vardy replacement, West Ham can not afford to take their time if they want the Englishman.
Adam Armstrong – Blackburn Rovers
The back-up option to Toney is definitely no downgrade. Like the Brentford man, Adam Armstrong is having a season to remember at Blackburn Rovers. The forward has scored 19 goals and assisted three in 29 Championship appearances.
Armstrong can play anywhere across the front-three. This versatility is something Moyes looks for in a player. The 24-year-old would be able to not only challenge Michail Antonio for the striker position but also Jarrod Bowen and the club’s other wingers.
While Armstrong may lack in height, he more than makes up for it in pace. The striker is rapid and is brilliant at getting in behind defences, and can clinically finish off chances. Armstrong also presses backlines like Antonio, which would suggest he could do the job required from him.
Moyes has scouted Armstrong this season, and he would fit into the manager’s criteria. The manager wants to target top talent from the lower divisions of English football. There is a belief that these players would be hard-working and will fight for their places in the team.
Armstrong would not be as costly as Toney and is being less targeted by the top teams in the Premier League. West Ham would, in fact, be competing with teams that they are ahead of in terms of league position.
Blackburn Rovers are not the wealthiest club in the Championship and have struggled under their current ownership. The Hammers could be able to snap up the forward for a figure of around £15-£18 million, significantly less than Toney.
Jesse Lingard – Manchester United
Where to start with this obvious target for West Ham in the summer. Jesse Lingard joined the Hammers in January on loan with no option/obligation for the move to be made permanent. Lingard has already proven that he needs to be the priority when the transfer window reopens.
The midfielder may have only played four games for the club since joining on loan but has already notched one assist and three goals. Lingard has added creativity and excitement to West Ham’s attack.
Many fans expected Lingard to add depth to a thin attack, but instead, he has become one fo the first names on the teamsheet. Lingard has also brought his winning mentality from Manchester United, which has infected the whole squad.
The team, with Lingard’s help West Ham have continued to challenge for the Champions League places in the Premier League. If the club does qualify for any European competition, then Lingard’s experience would be a welcome addition.
With only one year left on the midfielder’s contract, the Red Devils may have to lower their valuation. They would be risking wasting another year of his career and then lose him for nothing next year. £15 million should be the most that Lingard will cost the Hammers, maybe even less if his form drops before the end of the season.
It is expected that Manuel Lanzini and Andriy Yarmolenko will leave the club in the summer, and Lingard would be a perfect replacement. The midfielder would fill both their spots due to his versatility. The sale of the duo would surely raise enough capital to pay for Lingard.
Goncalo Guedes – Valencia
A new link emerged recently that West Ham are in the queue for Valencia forward Goncalo Guedes, who is valued at £13 million. The attacking winger has struggled this season in La Liga and has only managed one goal and one assist in 18 appearances for Valencia.
While his ability to play on both flank would be useful, his output is not one that will inspire fans who are currently being thrilled by Lingard and Said Benrahma. Links to the Portuguese winger seem lazy and would be a move from the West Ham of old.
Guedes would struggle to get into the Hammers current first-team but could be an option for rotation when stars need a rest. Especially as Lanzini and Yarmolenko could be on their way out, as said earlier. This is really the only place Guedes would fit into the team currently.
If West Ham does qualify for European competition this season, then they will need to invest and increase the number of playing staff at the club.
The winger, however, has had more success in the Copa Del Rey, scoring twice and assisting one in only three games. It could be the case that Guedes needs a fresh start to reignite his career. The 24-year-old was very promising when he was at Benfica, but his career has stalled since transfers to PSG and Valencia.
One positive that Guedes has is that he does have European experience. The winger has played 20 games in the Champions League, scoring three goals and assisting one. In the Europa League, Guedes has managed the same amount of goal contributions but in only eight games.
Guedes has shown glimpses of what his potential showed, but not nearly on a regular enough basis. The price may not be the biggest dent into the budget and could be a low-risk move for the Hammers, but surely they could find better value elsewhere.