West Ham target Paul Onuachu: Is he the right striker for David Moyes?

Paul Onuachu is a name that keeps cropping up in relation to West Ham, with the latest link coming from The Athletic claiming that West Ham, alongside Watford and Arsenal, is interested in the Nigerian. The 6’7 striker had a prolific season with Genk in 2020/21, registering 38 goal contributions (33 goals, 5 assists) in as many games.

The Belgian side reportedly values Onuachu in the £20 million region, which is well within West Ham’s budget, but should he be the striker that Moyes makes a move for? What is immediately noticeable about Onuachu is his height – at 6’7, he would tower over most other players, making him an ideal target man.

This is reflected in his stats as he wins, on average, 8 aerial duels per 90, though he surprisingly only has a 55.4%% success rate. However, this suggests that he often competes for aerial balls and is not afraid of getting physical – a trait Moyes will surely admire. It’s hard not to think Paul would thrive off Aaron Cresswell’s delivery into the box.

Onuachu is an adept finisher, too, averaging a goal almost every 90 minutes despite not having plenty of chances in a game. The Nigerian averages around 3 shots per 90, with a conversion rate of 28.9%. This is impressive and would suit West Ham, who needs a clinical finisher. Of course, the standard of defending is much higher in the Premier League, though he certainly has all the right traits to adapt and thrive.

Onuachu is a typical “fox in the box,” scoring all his goals from within the penalty area. This mirrors West Ham’s Michail Antonio and suggests that Paul could similarly profit from similar chances as the current Hammer’s striker. The Genk hitman is lethal in the area and possesses smart movement to create space for himself in the box. He is also physical enough to overpower opposition defenders.

However, Onuachu is not simply a goal scorer; he is key to Genk’s build-up play due to his physicality. He often drops down into midfield to help create chances, either through passing or flicking long balls into the path of his teammates.

This direct style of play suits mirrors the Hammers. The Nigerian’s 6’7 frame would provide a reliable outlet when clearing the ball downfield and an opportunity to flick the ball on for an onrushing attacker. Moyes has used this tactic before to good effect, such as the link-up between Haller and Antonio against Southampton in 2019.

Unfortunately, Haller’s time at West Ham will ultimately go down as unsuccessful. I fear Onuachu is far more similar to the Frenchman than Michail as he is not one to run the channels as frequently and lacks the pace and stamina that Antonio brings to the side.

Signing Onuachu for £20 million would certainly be a risk. Whilst he would be a very effective option against sides that sit back and invite West Ham on (like Fulham and Newcastle, who frustrated Moyes’ side last season), it is a lot of money to spend on someone reaching the peak of their career without ever having played in a top-five league. However, Moyes appears to be very diligent with signings, and if he believes that Onuachu is the man for him, I would trust his opinion.