West Ham are reportedly scouring the market for a new striker.
New West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini will be tasked with bringing the players capable of pushing the Hammers into the top half of the table next season, and a striker should be at the top of the club’s transfer priorities.
Pellegrini will want a new goalkeeper, centre-back, central midfielder and a winger, but adding a striker is likely to be high on his agenda too with the club reportedly linked with a £16million move for West Bromwich Albion’s Salomon Rondon.
The Mirror claim Venezuela international Rondon has a clause in his contract that has now kicked in following the Baggies’ relegation, which allows interested clubs to sign the target man for the eight-figure fee.
But with just 24 goals in 108 Premier League games for the Baggies, the Hammers must question whether landing the former Zenit St. Petersburg striker will really take the club forward.
Instead, Pellegrini should look to sign Monaco forward Stevan Jovetic for a second time, after luring the Montenegro forward to Manchester City in his first season with the Premier League champions back in 2013-14.
Jovetic has been in decent form this season for the Ligue 1 outfit, scoring 10 goals in 21 league and cup outings as well as adding three assists.
Signing a player of Jovetic’s calibre will excite West Ham fans, who are in desperate need of a pick-me-up after a backwards season under both Slaven Bilic and David Moyes.
The appointment of Pellegrini has certainly gone a long way to appeasing West Ham fans, but the supporters will want a number of summer signings they believe can take the club back into contention for a place in the top 10.
Jovetic would certainly do that, and prove a better alternative to Rondon. Signing Jovetic for a second time should be one of Pellegrini’s priorities.
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