West Ham hold talks over “ice cold” Awoniyi alternative

Graham Potter delivered his first victory and three factors for West Ham United since taking on, beating Fulham 3-2 in his first recreation on the London Stadium. Targets from Carlos Soler, Tomas Soucek and Lucas Paqueta for the Hammers – and a brace from Alex Iwobi for the guests – ensured it was an entertaining spectacle on Tuesday evening.

Regardless of having much less of the ball (44% possession) and solely taking 4 pictures within the recreation in comparison with Fulham’s 21 pictures, West Ham nonetheless managed to attain three targets and create two “large probabilities”. Fulham generated the next xG (1.90 xG) from their 21 pictures and three “large probabilities” however failed to complete their probabilities, solely scoring twice.

West Ham at the moment sit twelfth within the Premier League following their victory in opposition to the Cottagers, however additional enhancements might actually be made on this January switch window, so as to equip Potter with the instruments obligatory for a robust second half of the marketing campaign, beginning with one other striker choice as a result of present accidents within the squad.

West Ham’s striker search

In line with reports from BILD, West Ham have held intensive talks with RB Leipzig over a possible transfer for striker, Andre Silva. The Bundesliga aspect are mentioned to need the 29-year-old off their wage invoice this winter, which might work completely for the Hammers, who’re trying to find a centre-forward this January.

The transfer would seemingly enchantment to Silva and his camp too, as his restricted minutes this season have been coming from the bench, whereas West Ham might clearly supply the Portuguese ahead a beginning spot, main the road within the absence of Michail Antonio and Niclas Fullkrug – with the latter man now set to be sidelined for a ‘number of weeks‘.

Silva – who has made 15 appearances for Leipzig this season, scoring only one objective, offering three assists and totalling 305 minutes – would symbolize the arrival of one more skilled marksman from the Bundesliga, within the mould of Fullkrug, but hopefully he might show much more profitable than the injury-hit German.

Silva vs Awoniyi comparability

One other identify being linked to a transfer to West Ham to ease their attacking accidents is Nottingham Forest striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, who is currently under contract with Forest until 2027.

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The 27-year-old has made 18 appearances thus far this season, scoring one objective in 383 minutes performed.

Each Awoniyi and Silva match the invoice for what Potter will need from this centre-forward, being a focus for different attacking abilities corresponding to Paqueta, Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen to play off of, one thing that has labored to good impact in his first few video games in cost (as soon as with Fullkrug/Danny Ings and as soon as with Tomas Soucek extra superior).

Silva (23/24) vs Awoniyi (23/24) vs Fullkrug comparability
Stats (per 90 minutes)	Silva	Awoniyi	Fullkrug
Targets	0.37	0.52	0.49
Assists	0.00	0.26	0.24
xG	0.41	0.41	0.34
xAG	0.04	0.15	0.24
Progressive Carries	0.62	0.69	0.73
Progressive Passes	0.86	1.21	0.98
Photographs Complete	1.85	1.90	1.95
Key Passes	0.62	0.86	1.71
Shot-Creating Actions	1.11	2.59	2.68
Aerial Duels Received	1.48	1.81	4.88
Stats taken from FBref

Silva – who notably scored 45 goals in just 71 games for Eintracht Frankfurt – was described as “ice-cold” by Eintracht Frankfurt supervisor Adi Hutter again in 2021, saying his composure reminded him of Robert Lewandowski. Within the 2023/24 season, Silva generated 0.41 xG per 90 (greater than Fullkrug has managed per 90 this season) and on par with Awoniyi’s 0.41 per 90 final season too.

The primary disparity within the metrics is aerials received per 90, with Fullkrug profitable 4.88 aerial duels per 90. That being mentioned, that is from a a lot smaller pattern dimension (underneath 400 minutes) in comparison with the opposite two forwards. Silva and Awoniyi have proven their high quality within the air, so this may not be a large concern for the West Ham scouts.

Whether or not West Ham determine to go for Awoniyi or Silva, and even elsewhere, they are going to actually enhance with a centre-forward addition who can apply related traits to Fullkrug, being a reference level for Potter’s aspect and bringing others into play, in addition to chipping in with some targets themselves.

Certainly, Fullkrug has proven flashes since his arrival from Borussia Dortmund – with two league goals to his identify from 9 outings – with the hope being that Silva might replicate such qualities upon his potential arrival from Germany, albeit over a transfer constant interval.