GSH Transfer Player Profile: Cho Gue-sung

West Ham have managed only 12 goals in 15 Premier League games and the club are reportedly interested in bringing in a new back-up striker in January.

The World Cup 2022 showcased one goalscorer in particular, Cho Gue-sung. He became a trending topic on social media after he had an on-field altercation with Cristiano Ronaldo. Cho made history in his country by becoming the first South Korean player to score two goals in a game at a World Cup against Ghana.

Considered a popular player in Korean football, Cho is already on the radar of Celtic. He has admitted that he wants to play in Europe and will choose his next team based on how much playing time he will receive. West Ham could give him a spot in the team, providing another option to Gianluca Scamacca and Michail Antonio.

QUICK FACTS

Full Name: Cho Gue-sung

Age: 24

Nationality: South Korean

Place of Birth: Anyang, South Korea

Club: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

Honours: 1x K League 1, 2x Korean FA Cup, 1x Top Goalscorer

BIOGRAPHY

Cho formerly played as a defensive midfielder, but a youth coach discouraged him from staying in the position. Instead, it was suggested that Cho convert to a striker and at the age of 19, he did. He moved to FC Anyang – his hometown team – in 2019, scoring 14 goals in his first season.

He transferred to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in 2020. Despite showing a good work ethic, he struggled to break the mould at his new club. He decided to undergo mandatory military service in 2021, playing for army-based team Gimcheon Sangmu. This allowed him to become more technically-gifted and stronger.

His most recent season has been his best to date, as he won a league title and was the K League 1’s top goalscorer. This success earned him a call-up to the Korean national team at the World Cup. Many female fans took a liking to him, with many considering him to be the most handsome player at the tournament.

STYLE OF PLAY

As he was accustomed to playing a deeper role during his youth career, Cho does not have a lot of pace. However, he makes up for this with his two-footed dribbling ability and shooting with either foot.

Cho tends to play centrally when he has the ball at his feet, and the majority of his goals tend to come from inside the box – a old fashioned poacher. He reacts quickest to the ball when it is in the six-yard box often striking from close range and always being in the right place at the right time. West Ham could do with a natural goalscorer like this with so many chances being missed this season.