West Ham have had two key transfer challenges throughout this summer transfer window, replacing Declan Rice, and injecting goals into a side that only scored 42 in the league last season.
With the Hammers receiving just over £100m for the England international, there is money to spend. After fans had to wait patiently for it to be spent, incomings have started to roll in as the window draws to a close. Edson Álvarez, James Ward-Prowse, Mohammed Kudus and Konstantinos Mavrapanos have all joined the hammers in recent weeks, for a combined fee of over £110m.
We are delighted to welcome Mohammed Kudus to the Club! ⚒️
— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 27, 2023
Despite the arrival of two midfielders already, West Ham are still keeping tabs on further midfield and forward reinforcements with the future of Lucas Paquetá still not completely certain. A striker is top priority with David Moyes keen to sign a true goalscorer this week.
A busy few weeks is now on the cards for the Hammers. Let’s take a look at some of the targets West Ham could be looking to add to their squad before the transfer window closes.
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West Ham transfer targets summer 2023
Jesse Lingard
Latest reports are suggesting that West Ham could make a shocking move to bring Jesse Lingard back to the club. The 30 year old midfielder is currently a free agent after leaving Nottingham Forest, with many thinking this could be the last we see of the England international in the Premier League.
However, it seems that his ex-club down south may offer Lingard another chance to prove himself at the top level. Lingard’s best football in recent years came during his loan spell with West Ham back in 2020, which could be a key reason for this rumoured reunion.
Lingard would cost the club nothing in terms of a transfer fee, and the wages shouldnt be too much of an issue, making this a pretty risk free move for the Hammers. They would add depth to their squad and would be bringing back a player who knows the ethos of the club inside out.
On his day, Lingard is a sensational player and it would be a great shame if a Premier League club doesn't pick him up, with West Ham certainly making the most sense.
Youssef En-Nesyri
A player that would seriously take the Hammers to next level and one that knows how to score in European competitions is Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri.
The 26 year old is top of the list of strikers that Moyes and co are looking to bring in, and there are plenty of reasons why. En-Nesyri is currently playing for Sevilla, where he has won 2 Europa League titles and scored 55 goals in his 3 year spell with the Spanish side.
A true goalscorer who will immediately become West Ham’s best finisher if he were to join, the Morrocan is technically sound and can lead the line on his own. His 2 goals at the Qatar World Cup helped to really put him on the map as he helped Morocco reach the semifinals.
Fans will be worried that the curse of failed strikers will continue at the club, but En-Nesyri fits far better with the way David Moyes plays football than the likes of Scamacca.
A fee of around £20m is the current asking price according to reports, with time now seriously running out in the transfer window.
Yuri Alberto
West Ham seem to be following the trend of their Premier League counterparts by taking their scouting talents to South America. It seems this summer there has been an influx of transfers and rumours surrounding young Brazilian stars coming to the Premier League.
The latest name on that list has been linked to the Hammers and goes by the name of Yuri Alberto. Currently playing for Corinthians, one of the biggest teams in Brazil, Alberto is a 22 year old striker with the expected Brazilian technical abilities, as well as being a physical presence who could well adapt to English football.
Alberto burst onto the scene back in 2022 when he was playing for Internacional, earning himself a €25m move to Zenit St Petersburg. However, with the current affairs going on in Russia, Alberto only played 15 times for Zenit, before being loaned to Corinthians last summer.
After a short period on loan, Alberto would make his move permanent, with Corinthians paying nothing for the player. Interest in him this summer is sure to be intriguing for the club, who would make 100% profit from whatever deal was done.
Reports suggest that a deal to West Ham could be in the works already, with the player valued at around €15m.
Odilon Kossounou
With the recent acquisition of Mavrapanos, West Ham may not be as desperate for further defensive signings, but there are a few players that are still very much on their radar.
One of those being Ivorian centre-back Odilon Kossounou, who currently plays for Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.
The 22 year old joined Leverkusen from Belgian side Club Brugge back in 2021 for a fee of around £20m, with the German club likely wanting their money back from any potential move away this summer.
Koussounou obviously doesn't have Premier League experience, but as a youthful option with masses of potential, it is a deal that could be worth the risk. With time running out in the window, a move to the Hammers looks unlikely, with a loan deal probably the only option left.
Hirving Lozano
West Ham’s search for attacking reinforcements is not limited to England, and Italian outlet Napoli have stated that speedy Napoli winger Hirving Lozano will “definitely leave the club” this summer.
The 27-year-old Mexico international, known as ‘Chucky’ has scored 23 goals and assisted a further 12 since joining Napoli from PSV in 2019 and would add a serious pace injection to the Hammers’ frontline, though they would have to fend off plenty of recent interest from the Saudi League. With the future of Lucas Paquetá up in the air, the Hammers may be forced back into the market for an attacking player, with Lozano being a pretty affordable option.
This was always going to be a manic summer of ins and outs at West Ham. Once the dust has settled, it will be interesting to see if their squad is strong enough to compete on all fronts, with the Hammers looking to go on another European cup run whilst staying competitive in the Premier League.
