4 strikers West Ham should target after Niclas Fullkrug injury | OneFootball

Just when it seemed as if Niclas Fullkrug was gaining some momentum in a West Ham shirt, the curse struck.

West Ham strikers simply aren't allowed to prosper.

The Hammers' litany of modern-day transfer failures meant they were still relying on Michail Antonio heading into 2024/25 with star right-winger Jarrod Bowen as the contingency plan up top. 31-year-old Fullkrug was the next man identified to provide goalscoring relief in the summer, but a hamstring injury means he potentially won't be around for the next three months after five starts and a couple of goals.

With Antonio out indefinitely and Bowen absent with a broken foot, new head coach Graham Potter is bereft of options.

Whether West Ham opt for a short- or long-term fix this month is beside the point. Potter needs a striker now. Here are four potential options in the January transfer window.

1. Jonathan David

David has entered the final six months of his Lille contract / FRANCOIS LO PRESTI/GettyImages

Having entered the final six months of his Lille contract, Jonathan David, who's no stranger to the transfer rumour mills, is going to be linked with any striker-needy club. West Ham certainly fit that bill, and the Canadian international is the highest-profile candidate to potentially enter the poisoned chalice in east London. David's been a reliable goalscorer for years in France, with his numbers skyrocketing since the 2022/23 campaign. The striker's scored 54 times in his previous 88 Ligue 1 outings. A chunk of David's strikes have come from the penalty spot, but there's no denying the Canadian's ability as a clinical poacher and a multi-faceted forward. West Ham could be the beneficiaries of David's prime, and the player's contract situation means the Premier League club wouldn't have to splurge top dollar to bring him to the London Stadium.

2. Evan Ferguson

Ferguson is available on loan this month / Mike Hewitt/GettyImages

If Potter fancies acquiring a forward familiar with the Premier League, perhaps Evan Ferguson is the route they'll go down. The new West Ham boss oversaw Ferguson's emergence at Brighton, handing the then-teenage striker his Premier League debut in February 2022. The Irishman's breakout, however, arrived under Roberto De Zerbi.Still, Ferguson is doubtlessly a player Potter appreciates and the forward's profile would be ideal for this West Ham team. He's an imposing presence capable of holding the ball up and running the channels, but his Brighton career has stalled. He's barely had a look-in since Fabian Hurzeler's appointment, with the young German coach generally preferring Joao Pedro or Georginio Rutter up top in Danny Welbeck's enforced absence. As a result, Brighton may be willing to let Ferguson go out on loan this month, and he'd be a great short-term fix for the Irons.

3. Emmanuel Latte Lath

Latte Lath has been prolific in the Championship / Ed Sykes/GettyImages

Premier League clubs have had great success shopping in the Championship as of late, with Morgan Rogers the latest talent from the second tier to shine in the top flight. West Ham have dipped their toes in lucrative markets as of late, but perhaps they'll be better served venturing into the humble roots of the Championship this month. Latte Lath came into his own down the stretch last season and scored eight time in Middlesbrough's final six league games. That form has continued into 2024/25 with the 26-year-old scoring ten times this term, proving that his hot-streak to conclude 2023/24 was no fluke. His proficiency in 2024 has seen the likes of Leeds hold an interest, while Atlanta United have submitted a bid just shy of £20m. Would West Ham be willing to pay in excess of that for a Championship forward?

4. Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Calvert-Lewin's Everton career has stalled / James Gill - Danehouse/GettyImages

There were murmurs of a falling out with Sean Dyche, so Calvert-Lewin may view David Moyes' return to reignite his Everton career. The target-man has scored twice in the Premier League this season. At his best, DCL is the perfect Potter forward. He functions as an effective focal point who's also capable of stretching defences with runs in behind and poaching inside the box. However, the utopian iteration of the 27-year-old striker has barely manifested since Carlo Ancelotti was in town and Everton started the 2020/21 season as the most entertaining team in the division (that lasted a month). In many ways, Calvert-Lewin is very West Ham. Injury prone and out of sorts, he'd weirdly be ideal for continuing the Hammers' striker curse.