West Ham’s majority owner, David Sullivan, has resumed control of transfer decisions and now faces a race against time to secure a key target.
The club had already planned to sign a new forward during the January transfer window, but recent developments have made this an urgent priority. Sullivan has taken back authority over transfers from Tim Steidten and manager Julen Lopetegui, following dissatisfaction with how £155 million was spent in the summer.
Both Steidten and Lopetegui are reportedly on thin ice as West Ham struggles under the manager’s leadership. The urgency to bolster the attack has intensified following Michail Antonio’s car accident and Jarrod Bowen’s foot injury, leaving the Hammers in desperate need of reinforcements up front.
The club has identified the need for a “top-level striker,” with Danny Ings failing to meet expectations. Ings is set to depart when his contract expires at the end of the season, underscoring the importance of securing a new forward this winter.
Bargain £12m deal sealed for top West Ham striker target
West Ham will likely need to secure at least two new forwards across the next two transfer windows.
However, the club’s owners have indicated that they are operating at their PSR (Profitability and Sustainability Rules) limit. As a result, loan deals with options or obligations to buy may be the most viable solution. Securing one forward in January should suffice to see the Hammers through the remainder of the season.
There is growing uncertainty surrounding Niclas Füllkrug’s future, as reports suggest he is unsettled in England and wants to leave West Ham, according to a senior board source.
The club recently confirmed their interest in Middlesbrough striker Emmanuel Latte Lath to Hammers News. However, West Ham is skeptical about ‘Boro’s willingness to sell, given their ongoing push for promotion.
Meanwhile, rumors have linked the Hammers with Brighton’s Evan Ferguson, but Hammers News provided an exclusive update that casts doubt on the likelihood of a move.
In the midst of these developments, West Ham has reportedly sealed a bargain £12 million deal for a confirmed striker target, as David Sullivan works against the clock to address the club’s pressing needs.
David Sullivan faces race against time for Latte Lath
West Ham recently confirmed their interest in Middlesbrough striker Emmanuel Latte Lath to Hammers News. However, the club believed that Middlesbrough, focused on their promotion push, would be unwilling to sell.
Journalist Graeme Bailey, who has strong ties to Middlesbrough, offered a different perspective. He suggested that the club might consider parting with Lath if the right offer came along. It now appears that such an offer has been made—though not by West Ham.
In an exclusive report on his Patreon, journalist Alan Nixon revealed that Leicester City, West Ham’s Premier League rivals, had a £12 million bid for Latte Lath accepted by Middlesbrough. Nixon reiterated West Ham’s interest but noted that Leicester now has the first opportunity to negotiate with the Ivory Coast forward, who has reportedly been seeking a move for months.
Leicester is reportedly close to finalizing the deal, but nothing has been signed yet, leaving West Ham with a slim chance to intervene. Previously, Bailey told Hammers News he believed Middlesbrough would sell Lath for £25 million and mentioned that an influential agent close to West Ham owner David Sullivan was advocating for Lath’s move to East London.
“Will Salthouse is trying to do Lath – every player has his price, ‘Boro would take £25m for him – they have Conway, who is better really but if they did it early enough they could do it,” Bailey said.
