West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui has identified a new transfer target, who he believes will fit perfectly into the club’s long-term plans and is well suited to the hustle of Premier League football.
West Ham's rumoured transfer plans for January
The east Londoners, led by technical director Tim Steidten, splashed the cash last summer in an attempt to back Lopetegui.
West Ham likely to let £80,000-per-week star loved by Lopetegui go in 2025
He may not stay beyond this season.
1 ByEmilio Galantini
The Spaniard watched on as Steidten brought in a host of new players, with centre-back Max Kilman, winger Crysencio Summerville, striker Niclas Fullkrug, Brazilian gem Luis Guilherme, right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, goalkeeper Wes Foderingham, midfielder Guido Rodriguez, defender Jean-Clair Todibo and Spain international Carlos Soler all making moves to the London Stadium.
West Ham summer signings
From
Fee (Transfermarkt)
Maximilian Kilman
Wolves
€47.5m
Crysencio Summerville
Leeds United
€29.3m
Niclas Fullkrug
Borussia Dortmund
€27m
Luis Guilherme
Palmeiras
€23m
Mohamadou Kante
Paris FC
Undisclosed
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Man Utd
€18m
Wes Foderingham
Sheffield United
Free transfer
Guido Rodriguez
Real Betis
Free transfer
Jean-Clair Todibo
Nice
Loan transfer
Carlos Soler
PSG
Loan transfer
West Ham summer departures
To
Fee (Transfermarkt)
Flynn Downes
Southampton
€17.85m
James Ward-Prowse
Nottingham Forest
Loan
Maxwel Cornet
Southampton
Loan
Nayef Aguerd
Real Sociedad
Loan
Kurt Zouma
Al-Shabab
Loan
Said Benrahma
Lyon
€14.4m
Angelo Ogbonna
Watford
Free transfer
Thilo Kehrer
Monaco
€11m
Nathan Trott
FC Copenhagen
€1.5m
Ben Johnson
Ipswich Town
Free transfer
Joseph Anang
St Patrick’s Athletic
Free transfer
West Ham spent north of £120 million on this host of fresh faces, but Lopetegui has also endured a difficult start to the campaign. Fullkrug’s West Ham career has been blighted by injury so far, forcing Lopetegui to rely on ageing strike force Danny Ings and Michail Antonio, who are set to leave on a free transfer next year as things stand.
This has led to reports that Lopetegui wants a new striker in January, with Panathinaikos striker Fotis Ioannidis, Benfica’s Vangelis Pavlidis and PAOK starlet Stefanos Tzimas among the forwards linked with moves to West Ham.
They could look to bolster other areas of their attacking line as well, like a playmaker. Some reports have previously claimed that West Ham are planning to bid for Ernest Muci of Besiktas in January, with CaughtOffside now sharing a new name on Lopetegui’s personal radar.
Lopetegui personally identifies Ibrahim Maza as West Ham target
According to CaughtOffside, Hertha Berlin forward Ibrahim Maza has been personally identified by Lopetegui as a new target for West Ham.
The 58-year-old has a real belief that Maza fits both the club’s long-term plans and the demands of English top-flight football, with the 18-year-old sensation also capable of playing five different roles across the attacking line.
Maza has experience playing as an attacking midfielder, centre-forward, left-winger, right-winger and central midfielder – which is a real plus point considering the demands of Premier League football and West Ham’s need for strength in depth.
The teenager has scored four goals and assisted two others across 12 appearances in all competitions this season, and it is believed he’d cost a maximum of just £21 million.