West Ham United have sold Javier Hernandez to Sevilla.
West Ham United let a host of strikers leave the club before the start of the season, and they've just allowed another one to go.
The Hammers released Andy Carroll, sold Lucas Perez and Marko Arnautovic and loaned out Jordan Hugill, trimming the numbers in Manuel Pellegrini's squad.
West Ham then broke their transfer record to sign Sebastien Haller from Eintracht Frankfurt, and added a cheap, talented youngster in Basel's Albian Ajeti.
That seemed to round off West Ham's options; a star striker in Haller, an experienced backup in Javier Hernandez and a versatile youngster in Ajeti.
However, West Ham have now sold Hernandez to Sevilla, and that seems like a major risk being taken by the Hammers, weeks after the transfer window ended.
West Ham now can't replace Hernandez until January, and whilst Sky Sports claim that the money will be put towards a new signing in 2020, this seems like a gamble.
When Haller was injured recently, it was Hernandez who stepped up, and he scored against Brighton. If Haller was to pick up another injury, his backup would be Ajeti, whose only action for West Ham has come against League Two side Newport County.
Michail Antonio has played up front before, but he's out injured for months with a major hamstring injury, meaning even he can't help share the striking burden around.
Other options are thin on the ground. Xande Silva doesn't appear ready yet, and Andriy Yarmolenko has little experience as a striker, leaving Pellegrini with limited options in attack, with no free agents of the necessary quality.
It's now up to two new signings to carry the workload in Haller and Ajeti, with little proven cover around them – and whilst the money for Hernandez was great given his age, West Ham are risking being caught short having left their experienced striker go.
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