West Ham should move for 'exceptional' forward who is 'one of the best strikers in the world'- View
10/31/2024 11:52 AM
West Ham United sporting director Tim Steidten saw an ageing Michail Antonio in the squad and inexplicably decided to shell out £27 million to Borussia Dortmund for 31-year-old Niclas Fullkrug.
The decision has come back to bite the club. The former Werder Bremen hitman has barely been fit this season, leaving Antonio as the only pure centre-forward option on the roster.
Antonio has scored just once in the Premier League this term while missing three big chances. The Hammers need a younger and more prolific option to lead the line and score decisive goals.
There are not many exciting options in the market that fit the Hammers' budget and needs, but there’s one intriguing pick who could give West Ham’s attack a new edge – Darwin Nunez.
Despite his inconsistent form, the Liverpool forward possesses the raw talent and goalscoring ability to take the Hammers’ attack to a new level.
Immediately, many will call the Uruguayan a €100 million bust, but the truth is the 25-year-old took a career misstep by joining the Merseysiders. There was massive room for improvement in his game, and he should never have moved to a club of that stature so soon from Benfica.
Also, he was nowhere worth the money Liverpool paid for his signature. The Reds are notably tight-fisted with their transfer funds, and the Nunez deal is one of the few times they went overboard.
That being said, there are so many positive signs in his game that will possibly translate well in a different environment.
First of all, Nunez never stops running the channels. The former Almeria man charges down every ball and makes life difficult for defenders, a massive asset in today’s game.
West Ham got a first-hand glimpse of his energy in the 5-1 Carabao Cup loss earlier this season. The athletic forward was a constant menace for the defenders on and off the ball.
Nunez never stopped running and never gave them breathing space. He didn’t get on the scoresheet, but his work up top set the tone for Liverpool.
Also, his underlying metrics point to a player primed for an explosion soon enough. He takes several touches in the opposition box (7.8 per game). He is in the 97th percentile in the top five European leagues for that metric.
The Liverpool forward is also in the 97th percentile for total shots (4.41) while accumulating healthy non-penalty expected goals (0.67 per 90). These are all crucial stat lines for a striker. He ticks favourably across the board.
His finishing has been horrendous over the past two years. He has missed 47 big chances over the past two seasons, but that aspect of his game can improve with work, and those underlying metrics can translate to big numbers.
Despite missing numerous big chances last term, Nunez still recorded six winning goals for the club, more than talisman Mohamed Salah. After his stunning winner against Nottingham Forest back in March, Luis Suarez labelled his countryman one of the best strikers in the world today.
This season, he has scored twice and missed just one big chance, and if he got more opportunities in the starting XI, his conversion rate would naturally increase.
Besides, he is also an underrated creator. He is in the 86th percentile for expected assists per game (0.20) while being an efficient ball-carrying weapon (2.32).
Nunez has found game time hard to come by under Arne Slot and will be looking for a place where he can be first-choice again. West Ham can provide him with the perfect stomping ground.
A loan in the January winter window could allow the Hammers to test how he would fit in before throwing any money at Liverpool for his services.
The Irons once took a big-money flop off Liverpool's hands, and he became a popular figure here, scoring 34 goals and 16 assists in 142 appearances.
Nunez can score far more than Andy Caroll did and lead the Hammers attack for years alongside Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville.
