Football Forum | Ticket Forum | Off-Topic Forum | All

scott_d 10:47 Wed Jul 6
A Striker - Best of the Rest?

With Ibrahimovic moving to Man Utd (realistic target or not) and Batshuayi heading for Chelsea, that's 2 summer targets to cross off the list.

We have to be realistic in that targeting a top striker will mean we are competing with the big clubs and it will be hard to beat the likes of Chelsea and Man Utd, but that doesn't mean we can't find a good deal.

So who's left? Here are some of the main targets we are being linked with:


Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon)

It's a never ending saga with this one but if I'm being honest, I don't think we will or even should go anywhere near Lyon's asking price of £40 unless it remains our only option. A club in our position with our resources cannot afford to take such a huge risk. If he does not score 20 goals in his first season it will be deemed as a failure considering the outlay. Do we want to spend that much money and put that much pressure on a player?

Manolo Gabiadini (Napoli)

He's not really had any prolific seasons in his career, in fact 8 goals in the season before last for Napoli was his joint best season in Italy (league goals). But in his defence, the 8 goals for Napoli was in 8 starts which suggests he's not really catching a break and his goals to starts ratio is actually respectable.
Regular first team football could bring out the 20 goals a season striker in him?

Carlos Bacca (AC Milan)

18 goals for Milan last season, 20 goal seasons in 3 different leagues (Columbia, Belgium, Spain) and generally a pretty consistant goal scorere wherever he has been. As discussed at length this does not guarantee goals but it does offer some hope that he knows where the net is. As he turns 30 later in the year you'd hope it won't be too expensive but AC Milan paid €30m euros for him only last summer so he could prove a costly buy for his age. Still if he gives us 2-3 seasons of around 20 goals you would argue that £20m is probably worth it?

Vincent Janssen (AZ Alkmar)

The (joint) youngest striker on the list at 22 he had an excellent debut season in the top league of Holland with 27 league goals. Looks to have made the step-up from the Dutch 1st division comfortably and would be a step up again to the Premier League. Again, 27 goals suggests he knows how to score goals. He's a reasonable size as well, so doesn't look like he'll have any problems competing, perhaps just keeping up with the pace of the Premier League would be the question mark? However, it looks like Spurs are favourites but no harm in looking if Levy hesitates and we can get a good deal.

Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich)

This would be the cheapest of all the deals but by far the best value for money at the quoted £5m mark. Gomez has bundles of goals and experience. He's 30 years old but for the price, he's got to be a great shout for a couple of years and would also mean we could perhaps take a risk on a young striker (the likes of Janssen) who could learn allot from

Simone Zaza (Juventus)

I don't think Zaza would feel like a marque signing as his record isn't anything special. It's also hard not to be put off by his shocking penalty against Germany! If we did sign Zaza this would be one to have faith in Bilic and co and trust that they know what they are doing unless anyone can provide some useful info or insights on him? Hopefully it wouldn't be too expensive.

Jonathan Calleri

On loan at Sao Paulo from an investment firm or Deportivo Maldonao, I'm not entirely sure. He's another youngster at 22 years old. Well we all know the quality of the last young Argentine Striker we signed with a complicated ownership structure, the first thing we'd need to do is ensure that the transfer and contract is water-tight and 100% legal, just as it was for Tevez!
This would be the riskiest having never played in Europe but it would also be one of the cheapest if the rumours of a £7.5m deal are true.
Things have gone quiet on this one but again, it's not a huge price so if the club think he could do a job then I'd welcome him. I expect again that he would not be the marquee signing that we've been promised and would compliment another signing.

Sven Roeder 10:52 Wed Jul 6
Re: A Striker - Best of the Rest?

Benteke it is then

franksfat&slow&wank 10:53 Wed Jul 6
Re: A Striker - Best of the Rest?

I'd personally take Benteke proven and still at a decent age...I know I'll get hammered for saying it though

Mr. Burns 10:54 Wed Jul 6
Re: A Striker - Best of the Rest?

No one seems to mention that Benteke ruptured his Achilles. I'm sure he isn't the same player since he did that. A no from me.

Sven Roeder 10:58 Wed Jul 6
Re: A Striker - Best of the Rest?

My personal view is either we continue to find another Sahko type .... ie cheap and unproven or if you spend big money you want some sort of guarantee.
Benteke CAN score Premiership goals

Of course Sullivan has shot his mouth off about £20m + (£30m ... £40m ) 20 goal a season types but we may have to abandon that if we aren't prepared to pay the inflated prices.

franksfat&slow&wank 11:01 Wed Jul 6
Re: A Striker - Best of the Rest?

true burns I've not checked his ratio since that injury plus he'll be on a bundle of cash a week

ornchurch ammer 11:01 Wed Jul 6
Re: A Striker - Best of the Rest?

RVP not on the list??

Lily Hammer 11:06 Wed Jul 6
Re: A Striker - Best of the Rest?

Hopefully Real spunk their budget on Pogba now, taking away a large chance of Payet going there.

Keep Payet, and pay the full wack for Lacazette if it convinces him to come.

I'd say its a calculated risk to pay so much, but if you want to talk about statements of intent, then buying Lacazette would be that, and would lead to other quality players being more likely to join up with us.

If only Payet could come out and state for 100% certain that he is staying at West Ham; it could just be enough to tempt the likes of Lacazette.

Swiss. 11:13 Wed Jul 6
Re: A Striker - Best of the Rest?

Charlie Austin anyone?

ludo21 11:27 Wed Jul 6
Re: A Striker - Best of the Rest?

I reckon we will end up with two.... Bacca & Calleri.


Has Fletcher happened yet? That's all gone a bit quiet.

Sniper 11:58 Wed Jul 6
Re: A Striker - Best of the Rest?

I love the way that Sullivan seems to think spending big bucks guarantees goals. He list of failed strikers at cheksea is massive (multi, Kezman, crespo, Torres, schevchenko and then splashing the cash in players previously successful in the premier league like ba and remy and screwing them up too)

There are no guarantees. If you judges all the players based on the euros only griezman and Gomez would come out with any credibility really - other strikers have been pretty poor

What our owners need to do is keep their traps shut and focus instead on signing players who have been scouted and look most likely to fit into the system we play. Because I find it slightly weird that you would think 'well we missed out on batman so let's get Gomez' when they are totally different players - are you looking for pace and flair or someone who will do nothing but goal hang and take chances as they come?

We did brilliantly with signings last summer and have done so far this summer too - I'm not bothered about a 'marquee' signing unless it's someone we really need who fits the system perfectly

Lily Hammer 12:02 Wed Jul 6
Re: A Striker - Best of the Rest?

Sniper

Agree with that, but I'd add Giroud to the list of strikers coming out with credit. He's impressed me more and more as the competition progresses. Much more than anything I saw at Arsenal. I think I'm seeing more of what Wenger must see.

Grumpster 12:03 Wed Jul 6
Re: A Striker - Best of the Rest?

Always been a big fan of Bacca, but depends on the fee.

Trevor B 12:04 Wed Jul 6
Re: A Striker - Best of the Rest?

"I love the way that Sullivan seems to think spending big bucks guarantees goals."

not sure how you come to that conclusion, but the fact is that a player who scores regularly and is proven in a top league is going to cost a lot of money.

Lee Trundle 12:04 Wed Jul 6
Re: A Striker - Best of the Rest?

I think we're still holding out for Lacazette, who's been our number 1 target since day one. As much as I would like the club to get the best deal, it comes to a point where you just want them to match whatever they're asking for him, otherwise he could end up missing pre season with us.

I suppose you could add Berahino and Ighalo to the list above, although it seems like our interest in those has cooled off a bit.

El Scorchio 12:05 Wed Jul 6
Re: A Striker - Best of the Rest?

Bacca seems most likely in my mind, if we're not prepared to pay for Lacazette, or he won't come, and Janssen will only more to spurs.

Rossal 12:08 Wed Jul 6
Re: A Striker - Best of the Rest?

Out of that list only Bacca & Callieri i can see joining

Lacazette and Janssen the top two but cant see either wanting to come

ornchurch ammer 12:09 Wed Jul 6
Re: A Striker - Best of the Rest?

We need a pacy striker which would rule Gomez out for me.
Pace wins games more than ever now.

Alex V 12:09 Wed Jul 6
Re: A Striker - Best of the Rest?

Sniper 11:58 Wed Jul 6

Good post, I agree.

That said, one possible side-effect of signing a 'marquee' name is what it can do to the commercial side in terms of selling the club, boost in merchandise etc. I have read that that side of clubs is driving decisions so that just buying 'names' at big prices is becoming much more important simply for PR purposes. Whether that applies to us right now I'm not sure.

Trevor B 12:13 Wed Jul 6
Re: A Striker - Best of the Rest?

Trundle

I think we had a bid accepted by Lyon for Lacazette didn't we? The player and his agent have made is publicly clear he has no interest in joining us.

Grumpster 12:13 Wed Jul 6
Re: A Striker - Best of the Rest?

Lacazette I arguably the best from the list, but I'm old skool and don't want a player purely because we're offering stupid money, I actually want them to want to play for us and not just rock up here as their favoured teams fucked them off.

Page 1 - Next