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West Ham now want £17m striker who Gary Lineker called a better goalscorer than Marcus Rashford

West Ham now want to sign a striker who Gary Lineker described as a more natural goalscorer than Marcus Rashford.

The attacking department at West Ham is in desperate need of a new No.9 as Julen Lopetegui aims for success in east London – the Hammers only have Michail Antonio and Danny Ings as recognised senior striking options right now.

Worryingly, the duo only scored eigꩲht goals combined in the 2023/24 campaign.

RankNameGoalsAssistsPlayedGoals per 90Mins per Goal (MPG)Total ShotsGoal ConversionShot Accuracy
1Jarrod Bowen2010440.471928324%57%
2Mohammed Kudus146450.362506223%45%
3Tomás Soucek103520.234004920%45%
4Lucas Paquetá87430.214344617%35%
5James Ward-Prowse711510.165753719%59%
5Michail Antonio72320.312902825%61%
7Kurt Zouma30390.0811261421%50%
8Edson Álvarez22420.0615781315%31%
8Nayef Aguerd21280.0811791513%40%
10Emerson12470.023915166%31%
10Maxwel Cornet11160.26340425%25%
10George Earthy1042.57351100%100%
10Danny Ings10300.12766147%43%
10Aaron Cresswell10180.109281100%100%
10Konstantinos Mavropanos10330.032706205%20%
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Now – however – West Ham could put things right by moving for a striker David Moyes also wanted to sign…

West Ham want Taiwo Awoniyi

Daniel Taylor of The Athleti𒊎c has ꦜthat West Ham want to sign Nottingham Forest No.9 Taiwo Awoniyi.

The Nottingham Forest correspondent claims that Moyeꦓs wanted the Nigeria international in January – as did Chelsea – and the Hammers retain an ❀interest in the man from Ilorin.

Awoniyi endured ⛄a tough 2023/24 cam♕paign, making just 20 Premier League appearances as he struggled with a groin injury.

Neverthꦛeless, the man still finished the season with six goals and three assists – more ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚgoal involvements than Antonio managed in 26 Premier League appearances.

Photo by MB Media/Getty Images
Photo by MB Media/Getty Images

As aforesaid, Lineker is a big fan of Awoniyi, and even described the West Ham target as more of a natural goalscorer than🌃 Rashford when speaking on BBC One, during coverage of the FA Cup clash between Manchester United and Nottingham Forest back in Februaryℱ.

The 63-year-old said: “I think when you talk about p🌃layers in the box, Awoniyi is more of a natural than Marcus Rashford… he is a goalscorer. He smell𓂃s it.”

Julen Lopetegui might view Nottingham Forest No.9 as a backup

It is entirely po🃏ssible that Lopetegui views Awoniyi as a backup target, as West Ham seem to be making good progress with a move to sign Sevilla No.15 Youssef En-Nesyri.

A story by Spanish news outlet recently claimed that the Morocco international is keen to join West Ham, and Sevill🔯a will accept offers in the region of £20m as the striker enters the final 12 months of his contract.

Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images
Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

En-Nesyri made a whopping appearances under Lopetegui at Sevilla, so there could well beꦍ legs to this transfer ꦇrumour.

READ MORE: What sources are now 🌞saying about West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen after Liverpool and Newcastle interest

Be sure to keep an eye on developments at the L🌜ondon Stadium, as West Ham are expected to sign༒ a new striker this summer.