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West Ham already eyeing ‘dangerous’ £25m striker to replace Niclas Fullkrug

Mark Marston

Wed 23 October 2024 12:41, UK

West Ham United have made a really poor start to the new Premier League season.

Julen Lopetegui took over from David Moyes in the summer and was brought in to implement a more attractive style of p✤lay.

However, Lopetegui’s future at West Ham now looks far from secu🤪re having taken just eight points from a possible 24 – leaving them in 15th place.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
13	BrentfordBrentford	8	3	1	4	14	15	-1	10
14	LeicesterLeicester	8	2	3	3	12	14	-2	9
15	West HamWest Ham	8	2	2	4	11	15	-4	8
16	EvertonEverton	8	2	2	4	9	15	-6	8
17	IpswichIpswich	8	0	4	4	6	16	-10	4

The Hammers have been without their statement summer signing Niclas Fullkrug as he continues to struggℱle with fitness issues.

So, with that said, it’s now thought they could dip into the January transfer window to find aꦬ replacement.

• READ MORE: West Ham and Liverpool interest coꦚnfirmed as st💃ar explains why £30m move collapsed

West Ham eyeing Fotis Ioannidis

According to , West Ha🌄m boss Julen Lopetegui is putting pressure on club chiefs to dip into the January transfer window for a striker.

Fullkrug has played just 𝕴63 minutes of 🧔Premier League football this season as he nurses an Achilles tendon injury.

Michail Antonio isn’t viewed as a sustainable option, so Panathinaikos st🀅riker Fotis Ioannidis could become a༺ target this winter.

West Ham targeted Ioannidis during the summer but ultimatel🐲y opted for the more expe💖rienced and proven Fullkrug.

Ioannidis, who’s been labelled as ‘dangero♓us’ per analyst , hasn’t enjoyed his🌃 most prolific season, though, having netted just once in 11 outings for the Greek outfit.

Ioannidis statistics show he’d be a risk

Signing Ioannidis from the Greek league would be a major ri༺sk and in fact, his statistics aren’t particularly impressive.

Since joining Panathinaikos in 2🐬020, the 24-year-old has averaged 0.40 goals per 90 minutes, which ordinarily would be 𒊎a great return.

However, considering he plies his trade at a significantly lower level than the Premier League, it’s not exactly convincing enough to splurge around on his𝓀 signa☂ture – which is what Panathinaikos value him at.

Fullkrug’s Dortmund statistics♛ are superior, 🍸so if West Ham can just focus on getting him back fit, they obviously have a real player on their hands.

Now is the time for calm, so Loptegui must conti🌌nue to place his trust in Antonio🌱 until the Germany international returns from the sidelines.

Funds would be better allocated towards another creative midfielder, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek of interest to West Ham.