West Ham in talks to sign striker with just one league goal all season to become Graham Potter’s first transfer
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West Ham are discussing a loan deal with Ajax to sign striker Brian Brobbey, talkSPORT understands.
The 22-year-old could become the first transfer of the Graham Potter era in an attempt to solve the Hammers’ centre-forward issue.
Brobbey has emerged as the east London outfit’s top target as we approach the latter stage of the winter window.
Positive talks took place between West Ham and Ajax on Thursday over the ex-RB Leipzig man.
Though Ajax are understood to only be willing to sanction the seven-cap Netherlands international’s potential move to the London Stadium if the loan deal includes an obligation to buy clause in the contract.
Bringing in a striker has been a key priority for West Ham with Michail Antonio [broken leg] and Niclas Fullkrug [hamstring] both on the sidelines.
Potter was forced to play attacking midfielder Lucas Paqueta up top in the 3-2 win over Fulham, before versatile winger Mohamed Kudus led the line in the 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace last time out.
While West Ham fans may be buzzing over the news that they could finally be bolstering their attack, Brobbey’s stats this season don’t make for good reading.
In just 17 Eredivisie matches, he has chipped in with just one goal – a tap-in from two yards out against PEC Zwolle on November 24.
Since then, he has gone six league matches without finding the back of the net, with his form seeing him compete with ex-Arsenal academy star Chuba Akpom for a starting spot.
From 29 games in all competitions this term, Brobbey has fired in just three goals, with his other two strikes coming in Europa League qualifying, and then in Europe’s second-tier tournament itself.
Though he has shown he can be deadly finisher having banged in 22 times last term, which earned him a spot in Holland’s Euro 2024 squad.
West Ham have turned towards Brobbey after having two bids rejected by Aston Villa for Jhon Duran.
The Villans knocked back a £40million bid, before they swiftly rebuffed the Hammers’ improved offer of £57m earlier in the week.
It is understood that West Ham has a long list of potential striker targets to bring in this month.
Manchester United outcast Marcus Rashford is one of those players, with the club asking the Red Devils to be kept informed of his situation at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz and West Ham’s Evan Ferguson have also been linked with a switch.
Potter is all too familiar with Ferguson, having handed the Irishman his Premier League debut while he was in charge of the Seagulls.
