West Ham United are desperately seeking more firepower in the January window have targeted the likes of Jermain Defoe and Brentford star Scott Hogan.
Slaven Bilic has not hidden his admiration for either player, as reported by Sky Sports, but the Hammers have seen bids of £8million for Hogan and £6million for Defoe turned down.
The Hammers know all about Defoe, who started his career with the club as a teenager, while Hogan, 24, has scored 14 goals in 26 appearances this season.
While Sunderland are understandably digging their heels in over their star man as they prepare for another season-long battle against relegation, luring Hogan could prove a smoother path.
Brentford’s Scott Hogan celebrates
That’s after Bees boss Dean Smith told reporters he may be powerless to stop Hogan leaving if West Ham come back with a bigger bid.
“We don’t want to lose him but we also know that if people put the sort of numbers being talked about to us, we’d have to listen,” Smith said in a press conference broadcast on Sky Sports News.
Brentford manager Dean Smith
“If Scott was to go then the club would try and get as much as they could because you look at the marketplace at the moment, and the valuations out there, and Scott has outscored a lot of players.
“I believe he is (capable of playing in the Premier League), he’s a natural goalscorer, he makes great runs, he’s got pace, he’s got strength.”
Some West Ham fans are concerned the club is paying over the odds for a Championship striker and question why the owners did not deliver the marquee signing promised in the summer.
But supporters must remember two of the club’s biggest success stories of recent seasons are Aaron Cresswell and Michail Antonio, signed from Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest respectively.
While Cresswell was a bargain at £3million, the club shelled out £7.5million for Antonio in what was also seen as a big gamble and one that has certainly paid off.
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