It seems like West Ham are in the market for a new striker every single year, and after rolling the dice on an expensive and aging Niclas Fullkrug, the Hammers will be back to the drawing board in summer 2025, even if Fullkrug stays after an injury-riddled first season at the London Stadium.
The consensus is that West Ham, especially if they can't find a new landing spot for Fulkrug, need to go after someone young who can be a building block at the 9 position. Even if that player ends up being a bust, it's better to take a gamble on a 23-year-old striker who flames out than spend big bucks on an older player who becomes impossible to move on from.
According to a report from Sunday's print edition of The Mirror, via WestHamViews, West Ham have begun to show interest in Strasbourg striker Emanuel Emegha on the summer 2025 transfer market.
Emanuel Emegha makes more sense than Niclas Fullkrug did
Emegha is a young prospect worth watching closely this June from a Hammer perspective. The 6'4" 22-year-old Dutch international has scored 12 goals with 2 assists in 22 Ligue 1 starts for Strasbourg, catapulting his team to success as the attacking centerpiece.
Strasbourg aren't loaded with talent, besides Chelsea loanee Andrey Santos in midfield, so Emegha is doing a lot of hard work to lead the line and is using his frame well. He has a real presence in the box and does a great job of holding up play, drawing fouls and freeing up space for his attacking teammates.
West Ham tried to sign a big, traditional No. 9 in Fullkrug who could hold play up and offer a goal threat, so going in the direction of a young, high-upside player like Emegha makes sense. He shouldn't be too costly since most clubs aren't in on him, and he's an appropriate level for West Ham as an up-and-coming, productive goal-scorer in the French top flight with the upside to score a similar number of goals in the Premier League.
Strasbourg are already up to sixth in the table and on a recent undefeated streak, so Emegha's profile may grow. He should get a lot of credit for leading the line with the overperformance his club are having this season, and West Ham need to prioritize him over the more expensive and older options. He isn't a slam-dunk signing, but he's worth keeping in mind.