According to journalist Pete O’Rourke, West Ham United are interested in signing Union Berlin striker Taiwo Awoniyi this summer.
While David Moyes has done a marvellous job at the London Stadium across the last couple of campaigns, the Hammers have recently run out of steam. Just four wins in their last 10 Premier League matches have seen them slide down to sixth in the table and close to slipping out of the European qualification spots altogether.
Those struggles correlate with Michail Antonio’s own troubles in front of goal. The Jamaica international has failed to find the back of the net in his last 12 league matches, and with no other senior centre-forward at his disposal, Moyes cannot afford to give the 32-year-old a rest.
Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke claimed the Irons have been alerted to Awoniyi. He said: “I’m sure West Ham scouts have been alerted to him. He’s a big, strong, pacey forward who could definitely come into that team and improve the West Ham options as well, and I think he’s got all the tools to be a success in the Premier League.
“So, I think West Ham, as well as several other Premier League clubs, will be keeping tabs on him this summer.”
TIF Thoughts on Awoniyi…
Ultimately, West Ham’s lack of firepower compared to their rivals contributed to them missing out on a top-four spot last season – only Chelsea managed fewer than their 62 goals amongst the top seven. The departure of Sebastien Haller in January 2021 left the east London outfit with Antonio as the only striker, and that is still the case 14 months later.
Awoniyi is unsurprisingly attracting interest from the Premier League after an impressive campaign in the German capital. In 37 games for Union, he has 17 goals and has led the line convincingly with his strength and power – traits that could be put to good use in England.
He would not be too expensive at a reported asking price of €30m (£25.1m), but Moyes and co may well be wary after their experience with Haller. 33 goals and 19 assists in 77 games for Eintracht Frankfurt convinced West Ham to part with a club-record fee to take the Ivory Coast international to England in 2019, but he managed just 14 goals in 54 matches before moving on to Ajax for a fraction of the initial price.
Would you like to sign Awoniyi?
No
Yes
Would the club’s hierarchy risk another fairly substantial eight-figure sum on a Bundesliga talent? If they don’t, another English side may step in, and the Nigerian taking to the Premier League at a rival could hurt the Hammers.