Who will lead the line for West Ham United next season?
Slaven Bilic has made no secret of his desire to strengthen his West Ham United squad, with strikers the order of the day.
The East Londoners have been linked with Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho, with some reports claiming a deal could be in the pipeline for the talented Nigerian.
Bilic is also reportedly interested in Benin international Steve Mounie, who netted 14 times for French outfit Montpelier last season.
But what about the marksman already on Bilic’s books? Here, we profile who will be jockeying for a position to lead the West Ham frontline come August.
Andy Carroll
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The bustling Geordie is a big weapon in the Hammers’ arsenal. At six foot three, his aerial prowess is up there with the best in the division, and his sensational overhead kick against Crystal Palace, considered by many to be the goal of the season, shows he has a technical side as well.
However, Carroll’s main downfall, which has plagued him throughout his career, is injuries. He has only made 110 appearances for the Hammers in all competitions since joining in 2012, scoring 30 goals.
If Carroll is to lead the line and keep others out of the side, he must stay injury-free.
Diafra Sakho
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Like Carroll, the Senegalese international has the quality to get goals when he is fit – he has 20 in 54 appearances for the Hammers. But those 54 appearances have come in three turbulent years in East London, during which time he nearly moved to West Bromwich Albion in August, only to fail a medical.
Sakho is an effective, powerful and clinical striker, but if he is unsettled or sidelined, he is no use to Bilic.
Andre Ayew
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West Ham’s record signing, a £20 million-plus capture from Swansea City, suffered a thigh injury on his debut at the start of last season, which kept him out for more than two months.
However, he returned to lead the line in much of the second half of the season, and provides a more fluid and pacy option than Carroll or Sakho if Bilic was to opt for a false nine.
A run in the side next season could mean the talented Ghanaian will be one to watch.
Ashley Fletcher
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A potential wildcard for Bilic, the 21-year-old from West Yorkshire joined from Manchester United in 2016 after impressing on loan at Barnsley.
Fletcher has yet to score in the Premier League, but netted in the Hammers’ 4-1 defeat to the Red Devils in the EFL Cup in November.
