---
title: "Okazaki is a free agent again – would it be a good move for West Ham?"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2019/09/04/okazaki-is-a-free-agent-again-would-it-be-a-good-move-for-west-ham/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Alex Turk"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2019-09-04T12:00:29Z"
modified: "2019-09-04T12:00:29Z"
---

# Okazaki is a free agent again – would it be a good move for West Ham?

On 30 July, Shinji Okazaki left Leicester City for Segunda Division side Malaga on a free transfer, but he’s now available again in bizarre circumstances.

Malaga have cancelled Okazaki’s contract after just four weeks after his wage demands exceeded the league’s wage budget.

Spain seemed like a final big career move for the likeable 33-year-old so it’s a shame to see it hasn’t worked out for him, but that by no means suggests I think West Ham United should go in for him.

With Javier Hernandez leaving for Sevilla in an £8million deal on deadline day last week, many have been calling for the club to sign a free agent as a replacement.

Unsurprisingly, Okazaki is now at the top of plenty of shortlists following four successful years at Leicester, in which he helped the club to a Premier League title.

![Steve Bardens/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readwestham.com/readwestham/2019/09/891773320.jpg)

For the majority of his Foxes career, he played second fiddle to Jamie Vardy and made an impact off the bench, and that’s the role he’d be likely to have at the London Stadium.

I think Manuel Pellegrini’s striker options are sorted for the remainder of the 2019-20 campaign though, with Sebastien Haller firing in the goals early on and Albian Ajeti acting as second-choice.

Not forgetting young talent Xande Silva, who will be looking to make an impact this season once he’s brushed off the latest in a series of frustrating injuries.

Simply put, West Ham’s attack looks the strongest it has been in a very long time and I strongly believe the money used for Okazaki’s hefty salary could be invested effectively elsewhere.

As I previously mentioned though, the Japan international is extremely likeable and I wish him all the best in finding a new challenge.

West Ham isn’t it, however.