Report: West Ham now want £17m striker who Gary Lineker called a better goalscorer than Marcus Rashford
Posted By Joe E
May 28, 2024
4:47 pm
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West Ham now want to sign a striker who Gary Lineker described as a more natural goalscorer than Marcus Rashford.
The attacking department at West Ham is in desperate need of a new No.9 as Julen Lopetegui aims for success in east London – the Hammers only have Michail Antonio and Danny Ings as recognised senior striking options right now.
Worryingly, the duo only scored eight goals combined in the 2023/24 campaign.
Rank
Name
Goals
Assists
Played
Goals per 90
Mins per Goal (MPG)
Total Shots
Goal Conversion
Shot Accuracy
1
Jarrod Bowen
20
10
44
0.47
192
83
24%
57%
2
Mohammed Kudus
14
6
45
0.36
250
62
23%
45%
3
Tomás Soucek
10
3
52
0.23
400
49
20%
45%
4
Lucas Paquetá
8
7
43
0.21
434
46
17%
35%
5
James Ward-Prowse
7
11
51
0.16
575
37
19%
59%
5
Michail Antonio
7
2
32
0.31
290
28
25%
61%
7
Kurt Zouma
3
0
39
0.08
1126
14
21%
50%
8
Edson Álvarez
2
2
42
0.06
1578
13
15%
31%
8
Nayef Aguerd
2
1
28
0.08
1179
15
13%
40%
10
Emerson
1
2
47
0.02
3915
16
6%
31%
10
Maxwel Cornet
1
1
16
0.26
340
4
25%
25%
10
George Earthy
1
0
4
2.57
35
1
100%
100%
10
Danny Ings
1
0
30
0.12
766
14
7%
43%
10
Aaron Cresswell
1
0
18
0.10
928
1
100%
100%
10
Konstantinos Mavropanos
1
0
33
0.03
2706
20
5%
20%
(BBC Sport)
Now – however – West Ham could put things right by moving for a striker David Moyes also wanted to sign…
West Ham want Taiwo Awoniyi
Daniel Taylor of The Athletic has now revealed that West Ham want to sign Nottingham Forest No.9 Taiwo Awoniyi.
The Nottingham Forest correspondent claims that Moyes wanted the Nigeria international in January – as did Chelsea – and the Hammers retain an interest in the man from Ilorin.
Awoniyi endured a tough 2023/24 campaign, making just 20 Premier League appearances as he struggled with a groin injury.
Nevertheless, the £17m man still finished the season with six goals and three assists – more goal involvements than Antonio managed in 26 Premier League appearances.
Photo by MB Media/Getty Images
As aforesaid, Lineker is a big fan of Awoniyi, and even described the West Ham target as more of a natural goalscorer than Rashford when speaking on BBC One, during coverage of the FA Cup clash between Manchester United and Nottingham Forest back in February.
The 63-year-old said: “I think when you talk about players in the box, Awoniyi is more of a natural than Marcus Rashford… he is a goalscorer. He smells it.”
Julen Lopetegui might view Nottingham Forest No.9 as a backup
It is entirely possible that Lopetegui views Awoniyi as a backup target, as West Ham seem to be making good progress with a move to sign Sevilla No.15 Youssef En-Nesyri.
A story by Spanish news outlet El Mira recently claimed that the Morocco international is keen to join West Ham, and Sevilla will accept offers in the region of £20m as the striker enters the final 12 months of his contract.
Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images
En-Nesyri made a whopping 115 appearances under Lopetegui at Sevilla, so there could well be legs to this transfer rumour.
READ MORE: What sources are now saying about West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen after Liverpool and Newcastle interest
Be sure to keep an eye on developments at the London Stadium, as West Ham are expected to sign a new striker this summer.
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