IT’S OFFICIAL West Ham Fans ERUPT in Joy as Club Secures MOST TALKED-ABOUT SIGNING of the Season
West Ham United are reportedly stepping up their efforts to bolster their attacking options in January, with a “serious attempt” to sign Nottingham Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi. According to transfer expert Florian Plettenberg, the Hammers are eyeing the Nigerian striker to address their growing concerns in the final third.
Awoniyi, now 27, has had a unique football journey since joining Liverpool as a teenager in 2015. Despite high expectations, the Nigerian forward struggled to break into Liverpool’s first team and was sent out on multiple loan spells to clubs across Europe in a bid to refine his craft. It was at Union Berlin in the Bundesliga where Awoniyi finally found his feet, securing a permanent transfer to the German side in 2021. His standout performances in the 2021/22 season, where he netted an impressive 15 Bundesliga goals, caught the attention of Nottingham Forest, who signed him following their promotion to the Premier League.
Despite his initial promise, Awoniyi has found it challenging to establish himself as a regular starter for Nottingham Forest this season. He has only made two starts in the Premier League so far, largely due to the exceptional form of Chris Wood. The New Zealand international has been in scintillating form, contributing 14 goal involvements in 20 league starts, making him an integral part of Forest’s attacking setup.
For West Ham, the need for reinforcements up front has become increasingly urgent. Michail Antonio has been ruled out for an extended period following a severe car accident, while Jarrod Bowen is sidelined with a broken foot. To make matters worse, Niclas Füllkrug, who had just returned from injury, is now dealing with a fresh hamstring issue. This leaves Danny Ings as the only fit and available centre-forward in Graham Potter’s squad.
Awoniyi could be the ideal addition to address this crisis, offering physicality, pace, and a proven goal-scoring record. However, prying him away from Nottingham Forest could prove challenging. Forest will likely be reluctant to part ways with a player they signed less than two years ago, particularly as they aim to secure their Premier League status for another season.
West Ham’s pursuit of Awoniyi coincides with a broader period of transition at the club. The Hammers recently parted ways with Julen Lopetegui after a series of disappointing results and brought in Graham Potter as the new manager. Potter’s reign got off to a difficult start with an FA Cup third-round loss to Aston Villa, but he managed to secure his first win with a hard-fought victory against Fulham in the Premier League. This result provided a much-needed boost as the team looks to climb the table under their new boss.
The potential signing of Awoniyi could be a statement of intent from West Ham as they seek to rebuild momentum in the second half of the season. It remains to be seen whether the East Londoners can strike a deal with Nottingham Forest before the transfer window closes, but with their current injury woes and lack of depth in attack, securing the Nigerian forward could be a game-changer for the Irons.
