West Ham United were linked with Arsenal’s Lucas Perez in March.
Reports from Sky Sports on Friday suggested that West Ham United have pulled out of the race to sign Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud, as they continue to pursue a new goalscorer.
The Hammers attempted to solve their attacking woes last summer by signing Simone Zaza and Jonathan Calleri, but neither player signed permanent deals, and with both Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho regularly injured, a new striker is needed this summer.
Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud celebrates scoring
Slaven Bilic has already been linked with a host of potential targets, but Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud appears to be out of the equation, as Sky Sports claim that the Hammers have ended their interest in the Frenchman.
Giroud, 30, started just 11 Premier League games last season and has been heavily touted with a move away this summer following Alexandre Lacazette’s arrival at the Emirates Stadium, but West Ham allegedly don’t believe they can land him.
Whilst West Ham’s interest in Giroud may be over, they should still look to snap up one Gunners striker, as misfit Lucas Perez could fit the bill for Bilic.
Perez, 28, earned his move to Arsenal last summer having hit 24 goals in 59 games for Deportivo La Coruna, but he didn’t enjoy nearly the same success with the Gunners, notching seven times in just 21 appearances as he struggled for playing time.
The Spaniard now looks set to leave Arsenal this summer, and after The Mirror claimed in March that West Ham were targeting Perez, they should be switching their attention back to Perez as an alternative to Giroud.
Arsenal’s Lucas Perez celebrates
Perez’s all-round game, which means he can pick the ball up from deep and create as well as get in behind defences and score, means that he could bring something different to West Ham’s current attacking options.
Arsenal failed to get the best out of Perez, and as he pursues first-team football, West Ham should use Giroud’s snub to re-focus their efforts on Perez, who should be more easily attainable given his lack of playing time under Arsene Wenger.
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