West Ham need to look further, Defoe isn’t the answer

West Ham need to look further, Defoe isn’t the answer

West Ham face a challenge this summer to boost their ranks after a disappointing debut season at the London Stadium and their options in attack are likely to be significantly improved, as it’s an area they’ve struggled most this season.

Simeone Zaza has already gone and loanee Jonathan Calleri is likely to follow this summer, whilst the likes of Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho has struggled for consistency this season due to a wealth of injury problems.

For the Hammers to move forward, securing a top-class striker is vital to their chances and they’ve been heavily linked with Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe, as the veteran striker is likely to leave following the Black Cats’ relegation.

Defoe, who turns 35 in October, has scored 14 Premier League goals this season for David Moyes’ side, a decent return, but he’s failed to score since early-February and his depletion of goals has seen Sunderland plummet.



Whilst his return is impressive, especially in a side like Sunderland’s, Defoe is certainly not the answer to West Ham’s issues and fans would certainly be forgiven for feeling frustrated if the veteran was the club’s main recruit this summer.

If the Hammers are looking to go big, then they need to move for players accordingly and securing top, young talent is the way forward- as they can provide major improvements in the squad and would also provide great sell-on value.

Whilst Defoe could improve the squad, he wouldn’t significantly boost the side and should merely be seen as a squad player, rather than the top-class striker West Ham need in order to pull them out of the mud next season.

A major risk with Defoe is the fact that one significant injury could bring a premature end to his career, as a long-term absence would likely see him retire, and he also isn’t the long-term solution that West Ham are seeking.

It’s not like there is limited options out there either, as the Hammers have been linked with the likes of AC Milan’s Carlos Bacca, Championship top-scorer Chris Wood and Liverpool misfit Daniel Sturridge- all of whom would be significantly better captures than Defoe.

Another move for Chelsea outcast Michy Batshuayi would also be a better option for the Hammers, as the young Belgian needs playing time to settle into the rigours of the Premier League and hasn’t been handed those opportunities in West London.

In truth, signing Defoe would be the easy way out for West Ham as they could argue that he can provide the goals they need, which is partly true, but the fact of the matter is that the Hammers need a big name- especially after losing Dimitri Payet in January.