West Ham must avoid move for injury-prone striker as journalist issues transfer update

West Ham United are on the market for a striker in a bid to reinforce their attacking options, which has been severely depleted by injuries.

Michail Antonio is out for the foreseeable future after a freak accident and was quickly joined on the sidelines by Jarrod Bowen, who won’t be back until next month as he recovers from a fractured foot.

Niclas Fullkrug is the latest key player to join that exclusive list after picking up a hamstring injury that should keep him out for “months”.

Fullkrug’s setback leaves Danny Ings as the only out-and-out striker in Graham Potter’s squad at the moment, which is unacceptable if West Ham are serious about turning things around.

The Hammers have been linked with the likes of Brighton & Hove Albion’s Evan Ferguson, Olympique Marseille’s Elye Wahi, and Middlesbrough’s Emmanuel Latte Lath, among others.

According to Jack Rosser, the Hammers have now added Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi to their summer wishlist, although talks are still at an early stage.

West Ham initially approached their Premier League rivals to discuss a loan move, but a permanent deal hasn’t been ruled out.

For now, the Hammers are baulking at Forest’s £20 million asking price, so it remains to be seen if they’ll formalise their interest with an official bid.

West Ham must avoid move for injury-prone Awoniyi

Given their current predicament, it’ll be unwise for West Ham to invest £20m on a striker who has spent more time on the sidelines than on the pitch over the past two years.

Awoniyi helped to keep Forest in the Premier League when they returned in 2022/23, netting ten league goals.

However, he has only netted a further seven since, with the striker missing a large chunk of action due to injuries last year.

The 27-year-old has played just 218 minutes of Premier League football under Nuno Espirito Santo this season and made only two league starts.

West Ham are in dire need of a striker, but they can’t afford to make a knee-jerk decision that’ll come back to haunt them.

If they have any sense, they’ll steer off Awoniyi and look for a prolific striker to help push them up the table.