West Ham will be looking to strengthen their attack in the summer, with Pablo Fornals having transitioned into a deeper role and Ukrainian hero Andriy Yarmolenko’s contract currently set to expire at the end of the season.
Michail Antonio also remains the only natural striker at the club, meaning that position will likely be a priority in the next transfer window, and manager David Moyes will already have a number of transfer targets in mind.
One player that could prove to be the solution to the Hammers’ current problem, is former Everton and Watford forward Gerard Deulofeu, who has impressed this season with Udinese in the Italian Serie A.
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According to Italian news outlet Messaggero Veneto, Deulofeu is being targeted by the East-London club, and would be available for €20m (£16.6m).
Having transitioned into a striker role for his club, the 28-year-old would be a perfect addition for the Irons, with him also being able to play out on the wing.
Bullied West Ham before
Quietly, the Barcelona youth academy graduate has been one of the most impressive and improved attackers in Europe this season – going perhaps under the radar playing for a team stuck in 14th in the Italian Serie A.
Averaging a 7.11 match rating according to SofaScore, for his club in league football, he also has scored three goals in his last five games, taking him to a total of nine goals for the season in 25 appearances, having also created two more himself.
Among other attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues and continental competitions over the last year, he ranks in the top 3% for key passes per 90 (2.49), top 2% for passes into the penalty area per 90 (2.15), and top 1% for crosses per 90 (2.78).
His progressive passing isn’t the only area of his game which has massively developed, as he also ranks in the top 3% for dribbles attempted per 90 (4.36), top 1% for carries into the penalty area per 90 (2.30), and top 5% for shot-creating actions per 90 (4.31).
A hero among Watford fans for his “exquisite” FA Cup semi-final goal against Wolves, the forward has also terrorised West Ham before, scoring for the Hertfordshire side in a 2-0 away victory at the London Stadium back in 2018 – so the Irons fans will know all about him already, and he would certainly be a hit among the crowd if he makes the move.
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