West Ham United arguably need to bolster their attacking options this summer, and it may be the ideal time to land one of Europe’s most prolific forwards.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
While Swansea City have seemingly made some odd decisions this season, their move to sign Fernando Llorente has arguably been an inspired one and has proved to be a transfer that has given them some hope of staying up.
Although West Ham are targeting establishing themselves much higher up the Premier League table than the Swans are this term, the move for Llorente should tempt them into making a move for another striker who has made his name across Europe, including internationally, and who some may suspect is past his prime.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has been one of the continent’s most lethal marksmen since 2004 when he began to prove himself in the Eredivisie with Heerenveen.
Since then, the 33-year-old has gone on to play for Ajax, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Schalke and has achieved an impressive strike-rate at every club.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
He is now coming to the end of his contract with the Bundesliga side (via transfermarkt), and his lack of game-time in Germany this season would suggest that he may not be too keen on signing an extension.
Should he decide against a new deal, then Slaven Bilic surely has to act. The Hammers’ top scoring striker in the top flight, Andy Carroll, has managed just six strikes this term, and the fact is that they need someone to reach double figures by this stage of the campaign if they hope to make a better challenge for a place in the top seven in future.
With Huntelaar potentially available on a free transfer, the deal would be less of a gamble. Admittedly, the Netherlands international has struggled with injuries, and that may put a number of long-suffering Irons fans off, but the fact that he will not deplete their transfer funds too significantly may make it a risk worth taking.
And if Huntelaar can stay fit and can prove, once again, that he is capable of adapting to another top flight, then he may prove to be an inspired signing that captures the imagination at the London Stadium.
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