The tempting £13m glaring transfer blunder West Ham must avoid this summer
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It’s probably not the most encouraging sign that West Ham have started the season with their attack spearheaded by a striker who David Moyes seemed quite happy to ship off to Saudi Arabia just a few short weeks ago. Michail Antonio, for the avoidance of doubt, has been a fantastic asset and servant to the Hammers in recent years, thanks predominantly to his inimitable brand of hustle and bustle, but at 33, and with his schtick appearing increasingly foilable, the consensus is that change is required - preferably before the end of August.
Behind Antonio, Danny Ings dips in and out of effectiveness, and behind him there is nothing and nobody. As such, it has been entirely unsurprising to see the Irons linked with all kinds of names as the window has dragged on in a perpetual state of Sisyphean frustration. Interest in Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke has seemingly come and gone, while the summer’s most eligible prospect, Folarin Balogun, is occasionally offered forth as a potential target - albeit to little avail thus far.
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One particularly intriguing piece of speculation, however, suggests that West Ham could look to prise Anthony Martial away from Manchester United. As per talkSPORT, the Frenchman has emerged as a possible solution to the Hammers’ striker shortage, and tentative talks have been held over some kind of agreement that would take the player from Old Trafford to east London. After failing with bids for Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay, perhaps it will be third time lucky for the Irons.
At this stage, it is unclear whether Erik ten Hag would sanction Martial’s exit, but it is thought that in the event of his departure, United may struggle to command a big money fee, largely due to his contract expiring next year. Regardless, West Ham have asked that they be kept posted on any developments involving the player over the coming weeks.
Is this wise? Nobody can say for certain, but there are reasons to question whether Martial is really the ideal remedy to a problem that, if left unchecked, could severely undermine the Hammers’ ambitions this season.
Since signing for United in a deal worth around £51 million back in 2015 (Transfermarkt now value the 27-year-old at somewhere closer to £13 million, in case you were wondering) Martial has registered 88 goals in 298 outings. By no means is that an awful return, but nor is it particularly electrifying.
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Hide AdA closer inspection raises other concerns too. The forward’s highest single goal-scoring return in the Premier League came during the 2019/20, when he recorded 17 strikes in 32 top flight matches. On just two other occasions in the past eight years as he managed to hit double figures. Again, hardly prolific.
Now, granted, there have been long stints when Martial has been required to play out on the wing rather than through the middle for United, but you find yourself asking whether that is a cause or a symptom of his underwhelming form in front of goal. Surely if he had ever come close to making good on the potential that convinced the Red Devils to sign him as a teenager in the first place - and to include a Ballon d’Or clause in his contract no less - then he would be commanding a more central berth, rather than being shunted out to the flank. Or indeed, shipped out on loan to Sevilla.
And then there are his injury problems. In the past three seasons alone, Transfermarkt estimate that he has missed no fewer than 53 games as a consequence of various complaints. None have been particularly dreadful when taken individually, but they are recurrent, and they have continued to accumulate. In an attack as gossamer-thin as the Hammers’, that could be a problem.
Of course, there is always the possibility that I’ve got the wrong end of the stick here. It would not be the first time. Perhaps West Ham are looking to sign Martial as a winger, and are intent on finally dispelling any notion of him being a centre forward.
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Hide AdBut then again, that feels unlikely. Does Martial get into this Hammers side ahead of Jarrod Bowen or Said Benrahma? Probably not. Even if he does, it would be a dreadful waste of effort and resources when the need for a striker is so great.
In some ways, you can understand the temptation on West Ham’s part. Here we have a big name player at a high profile club potentially available on a cut-price deal who could, on paper, fill a problem position for them. But then you dig a little deeper, throw in a dash of rationality, and you start to question whether this is such a good idea after all.
The Hammers might be tempted, but this is one potential mistake they need to avoid.
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