West Ham United’s search for a marquee striker signing is becoming a running joke but one man could change all that.
Slaven Bilic was promised a marquee striker signing last summer with co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold pledging to spend upwards of £35million to land the right player.
The club reportedly saw bids for Alexandre Lacazette, Carlos Bacca and Michy Batshuayi accepted but failed to persuade the players to join the East Londoners.
That led to criticism from fans who felt the board were not doing their homework on potential signings leading to embarrassment in the transfer market.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic speaks with flop Simone Zaza
Simone Zaza’s loan was nothing short of disastrous and was cancelled before it triggered the 14-game obligation to buy clause at £20m.
Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho – both competent strikers on their day – spend more time on the treatment table than the pitch making West Ham’s desperation for reinforcements all the more acute.
Bilic has been linked with a plethora of strikers this summer including Daniel Sturridge, Henry Onyekuru, Kelechi Iheanacho, Batshuayi again, Anthony Modeste, Cedric Bakumbu, Olivier Giroud, Andre Gray and Javier Hernandez.
It is the record-breaking Mexican striker Hernandez who Hammers fans want to see most in claret and blue, though.
Supporters feel he is just the type of striker the club has needed for years but fear he will go the way of so many before him and opt against a move to West Ham.
For many it is hard to understand why West Ham are struggling so desperately when it comes to recruiting strikers.
Other lesser clubs manage it and there should be no problem when it comes to finances either, especially since the big move to the Olympic Stadium.
What any of the club’s striker targets must consider is the level of cult status they can achieve with West Ham is rare.
Carlos Tevez celebrates his iconic first goal for West Ham United
The list of top forwards who have plied their trade at the club over the years is endless and when you get it right and achieve that cult hero status there is nothing quite like it.
Carroll and Sakho have both had a brief taste of what it feels like.
Carlos Tevez and Dean Ashton were probably the last strikers to truly experience it while Craig Bellamy also had a glimpse.
But if a top striker gets it right at West Ham, it will not only see them achieve hero status at a massive club, but also elevate their own reputation onto the world stage.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Javier Hernandez
Just ask Dimitri Payet what a move to – and top performances for – West Ham did for him.
When he joined the club he was considered inconsistent and lazy and had been ostrisized from the France squad.
A year later he was nominated for the PFA Player of the Year, made the PFA Team of the Year, was named Hammer of the Year and won his place back in the France side before starring at his home country’s European Championships last summer.
Of course Hernandez has tasted top level football with Manchester United and Mexico.
But if he thinks he is idolised now…. come to East London and he will see that go to a whole new level.
So come to West Ham Javier. Play in front of 60,000 Hammers every other week. Be back in the Premier League. Be idolised. Be loved. Be a cult hero.
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