 |
| Call me, amigo... |
As we prepare for the annual stampede that is the close of the January transfer window, there is increasing speculation as to the identity of Mauro Zarate's replacement in the Hammers forward line.
With Emenike, Batshuayi, Fletcher, Yilmaz and even Berahino all being whispered as possible recruits, The Brentwood Gazette has identified Andre Pierre Gignac - Dimitri Payet's old attacking partner at Olympic Marseille as a potential recruit.
Gignac has been on fire since his shock decision to move to the Mexican League at the end of last season. Having enjoyed an excellent season in Ligue 1 alongside Payet, Gignac felt at age 30 it was time for a change. After six months at Tigres he has already been to the final of the Copa Libertadores!
It would take somewhere as special as the Olympic Stadium to drag him away from his Mexican adventure.
West Ham really need a fit and functional striker in order to bolster their chances of securing a Champions League spot for the first time. Looking at our current squad, the ability to score goals and develop a relationship with Dimitri Payet are key desirable attributes....enter the perfect candidate in Andre Pierre Gignac.
Gignac is now 30 years old and playing in the Mexican League after moving from Olympic Marseille in the same clearout last Summer that brought Payet to the Boleyn. The two rampaged through the French league over the past few seasons with Gignac's powerful style a perfect folly for Payets craft.
As a result, Gignac outperformed Zlatan Ibrahimovic for long periods in the Ligue 1 goalscoring charts amassing almost a goal every other game during a five year spoell at Olympic Marseille with 77 goals in 186 appearances. In his final season (2014/5) he achieved his highest goal tally for Marseille with 23 goals making him runner up for the Ligue 1 golden boot.
However, just like Payet, Gignac fell out with French boss Didier Deschamps and in frustration decided to cash in with a move to Tigres in the Mexican Superleague. Since the move he has been on fire scoring 15 goals in 25 games including the spectacular bicycle kick shown above.
Gignac has already tasted considerable success in Mexico having led Tigres to the final of the Copa Libertadores. This tremendous form has earned him an unlikely recall to the French National side and, inevitably, reignited interest amongst Europe's elite.
Gignac has an aggressive style that is likely to please Slaven Bilic and despite his physicality has a skilful touch that has been underestimated during his career. At 30, he potentially has a couple of years still left to play at the highest level.
David Sullivan recently revealed that the Hammers were focusing upon a striking target from a 'strange' league but who had previously played in a top league. Observers have been quick to jump to the conclusion that this is Emmanuel Emenike but Gignac clearly also fits the description.
The Hammers are experienced in trading with clubs from Mexico having previously signed Pablo Barrera and Enner Valencia from that league. Gignac looks like he could be a useful option and as a self professed Manouche, 'Dede' (as he is known by team-mates) has the wandering genes that could see him make the move back to Europe!
Would you prefer Gignac or Emenike, both or neither?
All the talk about the proposed signing from Al Ain of Emmanuel Emenike has distracted from the fact that with the departures of Zarate and Jenkinson, along with the likely move of Nikica Jelavic to China, West Ham have cleared out a number of berths for potential incoming squad additions.
Although Carroll and Sakho are set to return over the next few weeks, the fact is that even if Emenike joins the Hammers are still short on forwards and with Champions League football a real possibility the chairmen will need to think carefully about the old adage of speculating to accumulate.
Southampton's capture of Charlie Austin for a paltry £4 million was a cracking bit of business and one wonders if a switch to Upton Park might have been possible only for David Sullivan's provocative comments about Austin's ability and injury-proneness during the Summer transfer campaign.
But unfortunately for West Ham, the Austin bird has flown and they have been forced to look elsewhere for the poacher that could fire them into Europe. for now, the rumour mill has gone quiet but with space in the squad and cash freed up by the recent departures, there is every likelihood that the Hammers will make a late move before the transfer window closes tomorrow.
Burak Yilmaz, Michy Batshuayi, Stephen Fletcher, Demba Ba, Andre Pierre Gignac, Saido Berahinho and Ishak Belfodil have all been linked with a high profile move to the Boleyn with Ba, Belfodil and Gignac meeting Sullivan's description of the mystery player who is currently in a strange league but has previously played in one of the major European leagues.
With Sullivan and Gold, we will never get bored or complacent!
