West Ham United have not had much luck in the transfer window so far with signing strikers a key priority for Slaven Bilic.
Experienced full-back Pablo Zabaleta became the Hammers‘ first signing of the summer after he was released by Manchester City following nine memorable years at the Etihad.
Right back has been a problem position for the Hammers for a number of seasons.
But with that area covered the club is focusing its efforts on recruiting two top quality strikers.
The likes of Kelechi Iheanacho, Michy Batshuayi and Olivier Giroud have been heavily linked with the East Londoners so far this summer.
Striker light: West Ham manager Slaven Bilic is desperate for new forwards
As yet the Hammers have made little headway and fans are concerned they will end up failing to land the marquee strikers they have been promised just like last summer.
Quite why the club has struggled so badly to recruit in that position is not clear.
But Bilic should use his personal relationship with Juventus star and compatriot Mario Mandzukic as a gate-keeper signing to convince the doubters both in and outside the club that the Hammers are moving in the right direction.
Last month the director of football at Bilic’s former club Besiktas Onder Ozen was quoted by Turkish Football as saying that Mandzukic will be heading to team up with fellow Croatian Slaven Bilic in East London next season.
Given Juve’s plethora of expensive attacking talent, the hardworking Croat was deployed wide left of a front three last season and can operate there or as an out and out target man.
Slaven Bilic talks tactics with Mario Mandzukic
And his hard graft, professional attitude and selflessness helped Juve to another season of glory in Serie A by lifting the title and making the final of the Champions League, in which he scored a stunning goal against Real Madrid.
Should Bilic manage to get a player he knows well from his time as Croatia boss it would go a long way to persuading those unsure about a move to the Hammers that they will be a completely different proposition next season.
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