“West Ham Eye “Monster” PL Striker in the Mold of Mateta”
West Ham United is set for significant changes during the summer transfer window, marking the beginning of a new era at the London Stadium. David Moyes departed as manager at the end of the 2023/24 season, with Julen Lopetegui recently appointed as his successor.
Lopetegui will aim to retain most of his key players to ensure a strong squad for the upcoming season. However, there are uncertainties regarding some players.
Lucas Paqueta’s future is in doubt due to an investigation into allegations that he deliberately received yellow cards to influence matches, according to the FA’s official website. The outcome of this investigation is still pending.
Additionally, Jarrad Bowen and Mohammed Kudus might leave the club this summer. An insider reports that Chelsea is interested in Bowen, and former West Ham striker Frank McAvennie told Football Insider that Kudus could also leave the club.
Lopetegui appears to have identified his first target for West Ham at the London Stadium.
The target is Taiwo Awoniyi, a striker for Nottingham Forest and Nigeria. Despite a challenging 2023/24 season marred by injuries, the former Union Berlin player performed well and has caught West Ham’s attention.
Daniel Taylor, Nottingham Forest correspondent for The Athletic, reports that Awoniyi is a key target for West Ham this summer as they aim to strengthen their attack. In a transfer Q&A, Taylor noted that “David Moyes was also keen and West Ham still like him,” but mentioned that Awoniyi’s injury issues have reduced his value.
Taylor also stated that several Premier League clubs, including West Ham, are interested in Awoniyi. He noted that “Chelsea tried for him in the January transfer window.”
Awoniyi’s current transfer value is estimated at £12.7m by Football Observatory, which means Forest would incur a loss, having bought him for £17.5m from Union Berlin in 2022.
Another potential obstacle is that, according to Taylor, Nottingham Forest would prefer to retain their number nine at the City Ground for the crucial 2023/24 season, marking their third consecutive campaign in the Premier League.
What Awoniyi Could Bring to West Ham
Despite his injury troubles this season, Awoniyi had a solid performance for Nottingham Forest, scoring six goals and providing three assists in 20 Premier League matches. However, injuries caused him to miss significant parts of the season, preventing him from maintaining consistent form.
Awoniyi’s debut Premier League season was particularly impressive, especially considering the pressure of joining a newly promoted team. He scored ten goals and registered one assist in 27 games.
Even with limited playing time in the 2023/24 season, Awoniyi’s nine goal contributions would be a significant asset for West Ham. Only four Hammers players had more goal involvements than the 26-year-old last season, with Tomas Soucek matching his tally despite playing more games.
Awoniyi would not only bring goals to West Ham but also add a physical presence to the team. Described as a “monster of an athlete” by journalist David Hundeyin, Awoniyi excels in hold-up play and playing with his back to goal.
He could have a similar impact at West Ham as Jean-Philippe Mateta has had at Crystal Palace. Both are physical strikers and effective finishers, excelling in hold-up play. Mateta’s expected goals per 90 minutes is 0.43, slightly higher than Awoniyi’s 0.41, according to FBref. 
Bringing in Awoniyi would add much-needed quality at center-forward, marking an astute move for West Ham. It would be a strong start to Lopetegui’s first transfer window, potentially setting the stage for a successful season.
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