The need for West Ham to sign a striker has been a constant theme throughout this transfer window and was always a necessity for Slaven Bilic. It started as a simple suggestion and quickly snowballed into a frantic scream from fans. With Andy Carroll being injured and Mauro Zarate not performing in place of Diafra Sakho, something needed to be done. With Maiga leaving and Andy Carroll as well as Enner Valencia being injured, a new striker was a top priority. Bilic didn’t hang around and the club were linked with a new striker deal almost every week, but alas no-one would sign for the Hammers, and things were getting desperate.
Luck however seemed to be on the Hammers’ side and the problem has almost resolved itself. Bilic focused on the rest of the team, bringing in some brilliant defensive and midfield talent and kept his eye on some potential players to fill the last gap in the team. The signing of Nikica Jelavic has helped to fill that gap with the 30-year-old Croatian signing a two-year deal, bringing top flight experience with him. He will provide much needed cover up front and scoring at least five goals in each of his last four seasons in the Premier League, he installs some confidence for him to take the reins.
Carroll has recently returned to first team training and he is making a positive comeback. If Sakho remains fit and Carroll returns in the next few weeks, the team will have two strong picks up top with Jelavic providing a third, depending on how he manages to fit into the team. The pacey amount of midfield talent that Bilic has signed this summer, especially on the wings, will hopefully provide enough service for all three to perform well and ensure some wins. Valencia’s return, potentially in October, will again widen the options available to Bilic and may well silence the nagging voice he’s been hearing all summer of our striker troubles. The return of injured players around the signing of Jelavic has helped to put the team back in good shape and if Bilic was gambling on this happening, it seems to have paid off.
Bilic has done enough to ensure there will be cover not only up front but across the pitch. The next few months leading up to Christmas hold all the answers. If Sakho, Carroll and Jelavic can score enough goals to keep winning games then new striker talks could be put off until the summer. However with Carroll’s constant injury problems Bilic might be forced to sign a goal-scorer in the January window who is capable of rivalling Sakho’s place. Having caretaker players is fine, but splashing the cash for a new threat will bring security issues and even more to think about, for example a certain QPR player who might become available again could be a very good investment.
