West Ham gunning for Chelsea forward Pochettino has upset, with Moyes to axe three in ruthless revamp (original) (raw)
David Moyes is sizing up a wantaway Chelsea striker who has a point to prove, while West Ham are poised to embark on a ruthless attacking rebuild, per reports.
The Hammers chopped and changed in the centre-forward position last season, with Gianluca Scamacca and Michail Antonio splitting time before the World Cup break.
However, Scamacca struggled to adapt to the Premier League following his £35.5m (including add-ons) move from Sassuolo. Antonio, meanwhile, notched just two league goals between August to February.
Danny Ings was drafted in from Aston Villa during the winter window as Moyes went in search of a regular supply of goals.
However, Antonio enjoyed a resurgence in the second half of the campaign to leave Ings reliant on minutes off the bench. Scamacca, meanwhile, was sidelined with a knee injury.
Now, according to the Times, Moyes has taken a dim view of all three of his established options at centre-forward.
The West Ham boss is understood to be looking for a younger and more consistent striker. As such, Antonio – despite finishing the season in West Ham’s strongest eleven – will ‘be allowed to leave’.
The 33-year-old has one year remaining on his contract, while there is an option for an extra 12 months, according to Transfermarkt.
However, Antonio is courting interest from Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq and per the Times, ‘preliminary talks’ over joining to the Saudi Arabian side have taken place.
West Ham won’t stand in Antonio’s way if a deal is agreed. Furthermore, it’s claimed Ings too could depart, while Scamacca continues to be linked with a premature return to Serie A.
West Ham want disgruntled Chelsea striker
It’s unlikely all three will make way, especially as West Ham are back in Europe once again and will be reliant on depth.
Nonetheless, change is afoot and per the Times, West Ham are sizing up Chelsea’s Armando Broja to become the new starter.
The Albanian has a point to prove after being sidelined since the World Cup break with an ACL injury that required surgery. The unlucky frontman suffered the injury during a behind-closed-doors friendly against Aston Villa in December.
Aged 21, Broja would fit Moyes’ profile of a younger striker. The hard-working 6ft 3in frontman also looks tailor-made for Moyes’ style.
TEAMtalk exclusively revealed back on July 3 that Broja and his camp had begun exploring a Chelsea exit following the signing of Nicolas Jackson.
The ex-Villarreal striker is a sizeable hurdle in Broja’s path to regular game-time at Stamford Bridge. What’s more, Chelsea are understood to be seeking a second addition in the position too.
As such, Broja’s future seemingly lays away from Chelsea, though he might not have far to travel before finding his next club.
The Times note Moyes tried to sign Broja at this stage in the previous summer window. With the coffers filled to the brim with the Declan Rice money, West Ham may succeed in signing Broja at the second time of asking.