OK, so the last name was a bit of a red herring, but Carlton Cole who works with the academy as a mentor for the youngsters is still only 37 years old, mooted Hammers striker targets for this window are Graziano Pellè age 35, Olivier Giroud age 34 and Diego Costa at the sprightly age of 32.
David Moyes has cast an eye over Graziano Pellè as a target, the 35 year old is a free agent and is now without a club after leaving Chinese side Shandong Luneng. Despite his age, there are plenty of suitors for the striker, including Juventus and Inter Milan, while there are two ‘serious proposals’ from clubs outside Italy, one of which being from a Middle East club and the other is from the Irons. Pelle spent two seasons at Southampton and West Ham tried to sign him before he left for Shandong Luneng in 2016, so there was interest in him before now.
Pellè is currently in Dubai and would have to quarantine for 10 days where ever he ends up, although that would make him unavailable for a few games, his fitness would be more of an issue as he would clearly need at least a couple of weeks 'pre-season' before he could even be considered for the rigours of the Barclays Premier League! Diego Costa, the club are interested in Costa but wages could be an issue.
Olivier Giroud has been linked with West Ham almost as much as Declan Rice has been linked with Giroud's current club, Chelsea. At 34 years of age Giroud is no spring chicken, but he knows where the back of the net is, and would have been a good short term, possibly loan, signing. Unfortunately despite Giroud being desperate for game time ahead of the delayed Euro's, a factor that could have seen him leaving Chelsea during this window, it seems unlikely that the player will leave, for two reasons. Firstly he has been given a lot more game time of late, and secondly his beleaguered manager Frank Lampard may well be exiting himself during the window, Roman Abramovitch doesn't 'do failure', especially when he has bankrolled over £250 Million worth of acquisitions in the transfer market.
At ONLY 32 years of age, Diego Costa's availability on a free transfer could prove attractive to West Ham, he knows the Barclays Premier League well from his time with Chelsea, and by all accounts he is keen to return to 'the best league in the world'. Costa has received offers from several European clubs but would prefer giving the Premier League another bash, the only stumbling block would be the player's wages, but if Moyes adopts his usual 'canny' approach to the transfer it might benefit all parties involved.
West Ham could potentially sign Costa, even if they had to 'pay large' on his wages initially, he could be signed on a two or three year deal, utilised by Moyes for a season or two and then be sold on for a profit that would cover his wages for the time he was at the club, in essence a striker for free!
Costa looks like he is worth a punt, viewed by an outsider looking in, whether David Moyes shares that opinion is another matter, but Costa seems the most logical choice out of the three candidates. - Ed
Comments
Well what are we waiting for
Well what are we waiting for then,tell Carlton to turn up for training tomorrow lol,i think Teddy Sherringham was still playing for us at 37...This centre forward position has been a big problem for us for years,and it just dosent seem to be getting any better,we are always looking for bargain basement stuff to fill a striker roll,why i just dont know,it cant be just money problems,as we splashed out well for haller,and look where that has left us.
Teddy signed for us aged 38
Teddy signed for us aged 38 and last played for us when he was 41. Did a bloody good job for us too.
I thought that too plaistow
I was sure when I saw him play for us that he was about 40.remember saying to my son in the BM lower when he came on as sub once that I bet he scores & with his first touch he did! Good player even at that age
Costamonger
Costa has been released early from his contract for unspecified “ personal reasons “ ; has been injured a lot this season ; when fit he wasn’t selected ; and a history of controversy as long as your arm including fighting with his team -mates. And wants a shed -load of money. Any warning signs there ?
Pelle
Saw him at the Boleyn for the saints what an absolute beast of a player but at 35 can he still do it?
Unfortunately that is the
Unfortunately that is the point, old and past it? Go to West Ham and collect from the treasure chest!
Its no good all this dross
Its no good all this dross,they know we are permanantly desperate,so they bring their big name to us,and we pay dearly just for that,we expect them to still have the capabilities,but no way,they have had their glory days,where as we are still waiting,in the hope they can provide it for us,its sick.
Spot on essex!
Passed their sell by and looking for an easy life... no thanks!
I would consider Ericksen ... hes in the news but... we have a great team spirit at the moment and that upset the feel of the place.
Fishing in the Championship appears a better bet.
P.S. That Portugese muppet that turned us down for spudz... looking a right charlie now :o)
Too true Dartford,we want
Too true Dartford,we want someone who is hungry,with the years to make a name for himself.
Latest i saw that arnautovic
Latest i saw that arnautovic wants back in, things didn't work out in china and now he wants to come home... do us a favour
No chance
One the dildos wouldnt pay the money & 2 the fans wouldnt have any of it
yes agree
i would get one of our young players from the academy and give them ago, look at chelsea paid megger bucks (like us)for a striker and he hasn't scored yet but like Haller he was prolific for his other club ,just goes to show how hard it is to score in the prem or indeed how good the prem defenders and goal keepers are
I have had enough....
As a long-suffering supporter, I have had enough of the retirement home this club has become during my time supporting this club... I have had enough!
The penny finally dropped after Chicharito's time here.
These expensive short-term fixes aren't the solution that we need or should be looking at right now, and my gut feeling is that ego's of that size coming to the club right now, wouldn't do our squad unity any favours either.
I'm sure that there are players out there (especially French) who could come into our squad aggressive, eager & keen, capable of making an impact now.
No more retirement home, please.
A front 3 of Costa - Pelle
A front 3 of Costa - Pelle and Troy Deeney....................................Helpppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
Whoever we look at needs to be a lone striker
We dont need the someone with the physique of Bowed or the Mexican dwarf , if Moyes wants only to deploy a single hold up centre forward then he needs someone of a similar build of Arnie or Ashton. Personally I'll give Yarmo a 3 match try seeing as he plays that position for Ukraine and he puts in far more effort than Haller. It wont cost anything and if it dont work then there always the bench. One other point surely the club have one younger striker at the club that could fill this role. If Moyes wont experiment then he needs to be shown the door.