Hammers insider ExWHUemployee claimed earlier this week, while speaking on The West Ham Way podcast, that David Moyes’ side could sign Besiktas striker Vincent Aboubakar in the January transfer window.
David Sullivan launching efforts to land the Senegal beast could see the Irons co-owner and Chairman hand Moyes his new Marko Arnautovic, after hinting recently at desires to find another of the Austrian’s calibre having lacked much quality in the box against Chelsea.
West Ham have since sold Sebastien Haller to AFC Ajax in a £20m deal to further deplete Moyes’ offensive arsenal, with Michail Antonio – back from a second hamstring injury of the season – now the Scottish tactician’s only recognised senior centre-forward at the club.
West Ham’s lack of attacking options and activity in the transfer market saw Moyes face Doncaster Rovers in the FA Cup without a recognised striker starting on Saturday, with winger Andriy Yarmolenko instead tasked with leading the line at the London Stadium.
The Hammers have been linked with an endless stream of strikers since selling Haller, but ExWHUemployee has suggested Aboubakar may be an option the club will explore as the 63-cap international could be available for a bargain fee.
West Ham have explored signing Aboubakar in past windows and continue to look on the 29-year-old’s talents in a positive light, having scored 10 goals in 15 Super Lig fixtures after joining Besiktas as a free agent last summer.
His deal at Vodafone Park is a one-year contract that features an option to extend based on his performances over the 2020/21 campaign, that have so far seen the £6.5m-rated frontman score 22% of Besiktas’ total 45 goals in the Super Lig this term.
Sullivan signing Aboubakar in the closing stages of the January transfer window could see the West Ham chief land Moyes the new-Arnautovic type the former Manchester United boss is looking for. Any funds saved this month may also help the east London outfit land a higher-calibre target when greater options become available at the end of the season.
West Ham certainly can ill-afford to not strengthen Moyes’ attacking options in the winter market given Antonio’s injury issues, and should have no qualms over Aboubakar being a reliable option having only not featured in a Super Lig game this season after the loss of his mother last month.
Goals have continued to flow for the physical 6ft brute since his return, too, as Aboubakar moved his goals and assists per 90 ratio to 0.87, per FBref, while staying calm under pressure to score four from four penalty kicks taken.
No player currently at the London Stadium is contributing at a similar level, with Antonio (0.6) ranking first among all West Ham players who have featured in the Premier League on multiple occasions this term. Haller, for comparison, had offered just 0.29 before his exit.
AND in other news – Exclusive: Pundit drops verdict on West Ham’s interest in a lethal striker adored by a Moyes favourite.
