West Ham United He is now in talks with an agent over a move for the Championship striker next January, according to a report.
West Ham's suffering continues against Liverpool
Despite being unbeaten in their last four matches in Premier League Perhaps he gave West Ham some renewed hope about life under him Julen Lopeteguithey were brought back down to earth after a 5-0 loss to Liverpool on Sunday.
Few expected the Hammers to pick up any points against the league leaders, but it is the manner of defeat that will be a real concern, underscoring the need to bring in additional options next January.
The Irons' struggle to bring in a consistent striker is well-documented, with Niklas Volkrug becoming the latest player to impress elsewhere to struggle at the London Stadium, scoring just once in the league this season.
Michail Antonio is expected to be sidelined for at least this season after being involved in a car accident, meaning Lopetegui is now severely lacking in options in attacking areas. Jarrod Bowen has been given the nod for the Liverpool striker, but the Englishman's preferred position is off the pitch, so Lopetegui will need to consider potential options in the January transfer window.
According to a report by The Sunday Mirror (via Football League World), One option West Ham are considering is Middlesbrough striker Emmanuel Lathe. The Hammers have already begun discussing the complexities of a deal, having held talks with the player's agent, Matias Veneruso, meaning a January move could be on the table.
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Lath is impressive in the tournament
West Ham will be well aware that a striker who impresses in the Championship does not necessarily mean he will have success in the Premier League, given Jordan Hugill's failure to make an impact at the London Stadium after signing from Preston North End.
However, Lath has been impressive in front of goal for Middlesbrough over the past two seasons so far, and has shown signs of improvement year on year since scoring for the first time for Imolese in the 2019-20 season.
|
season |
League matches |
Objectives |
|
2019-20 |
19 |
2 |
|
2020-21 |
33 |
8 |
|
2021-22 |
18 |
3 |
|
2022-23 |
31 |
14 |
|
2023-24 |
30 |
16 |
|
2024-25 |
23 |
9 |
praised Deemed 'the real deal' by Premier League viewers, the 25-year-old shows every sign that he could be ready for a move to the Premier League, and is at a good age for long-term success at the London Stadium.
With Antonio out for the foreseeable future and Volkrug struggling to make his mark since his arrival from Borussia Dortmund, West Ham clearly need a striker if they are to start in the second half of the season, and Lath could be the answer to their problems.
The only concern would be the Ivorian's lack of top-flight experience, but it could be a risk worth taking if he is available for a relatively low fee.