The January transfer window – a time for names to fly, rumours to swirl and hype to build. For YouTube highlight reels, quick checks on FIFA ratings and tweets claiming “He’s the next big thing!”.
So as those names continue to be picked out of the hat and tenuous links are formed, I thought I’d do some of the work for you and give each of them a player profile. Here you’ll see their strengths, their weaknesses, scoring records, injury history, current market value, everything you need to know to make an on paper judgement.
Though perhaps the most important judgement of the lot is: Would they suit West Ham? Can they run around like a maniac, win a few headers and take a shot in the general direction of the goal?
Well… I’ve sat and watched at least half an hour of footage on all of these guys. Everything from their aerial duels (at 2x speed) to their finest finishes. So I feel like I have a vague grasp of how they might slot in.
Each player will be given an “on paper ranking” to judge their profile. And a “fit ranking” to judge their suitability for Moyes’ West Ham.
The search for the second coming of Michail Antonio begins here.
Boulaye Dia (24) – Reims, Senegal
Market value: £10.8m
Current club: 68 apps – 24 goals, 3 assists
Current season: 19 apps – 12 goals, 1 assist
Injury history: N/A
Height: 5’11”
International caps: 3
Pros:
Ligue 1 joint top scorer, 0.76 goals per 90.
33% conversion rate – 2nd of Ligue 1 strikers.
41% offensive duels won.
81% pass accuracy.
Cons:
21% aerial duels won.
Average form prior to this season.
On paper rating: 8
Fit rating: 7
Patson Daka (22) – RB Salzburg, Zambia
Market value: £18m
Current club: 100 apps – 49 goals, 20 assists
Current season: 17 apps – 15 goals, 5 assists
Injury history: Hamstring (33 days, Oct ‘20), Abductor tear (22 days, Sep ‘18)
Height: 6’0”
International caps: 18
Pros:
1.29 goals per 90.
39% offensive duels won.
42% aerial duels won.
1.46 smart passes per 90, 0.97 key passes per 90.
Strong form across two seasons.
Cons:
0.81 progressive runs per 90.
69% pass accuracy.
On paper rating: 9
Fit rating: 9
Ismaïla Sarr (22) – Watford, Senegal
Market value: £18m
Current club: 49 apps – 10 goals, 11 assists
Current season: 19 apps – 4 goals, 5 assists
Injury history: Torn tendon (100 days, Sep ‘17)
Height: 6’1”
International caps: 32
Pros:
40% offensive duels won.
6.24 dribbles per 90 at a 52% success rate.
2.47 progressive runs per 90.
3.03 recoveries per 90.
0.89 smart passes per 90.
Cons:
10% conversion rate.
Lacks experience playing as a striker.
Patchy form since his transfer to Watford.
On paper rating: 7
Fit rating: 4
Ivan Toney (24) – Brentford, England
Market value: £9m
Current club: 27 apps – 16 goals, 4 assists
Current season: “”
Injury history: Ankle (60 days, Jan ‘16)
Height: 5’10”
Foot: Right
Pros:
Championship joint top scorer, 0.71 goals per 90.
43% aerial duels won.
31% conversion rate.
Strong form across two seasons.
Cons:
0.62 progressive runs per 90.
First season at Championship level.
On paper rating: 9
Fit rating: 8
Adam Armstrong (23) – Blackburn, England
Market value: £9m
Current club: 142 apps – 52 goals, 17 assists
Current season: 25 apps – 17 goals, 3 assists
Injury history: Calf (19 days, May ‘15)
Height: 5’8”
Foot: Right
Pros:
Championship joint top scorer, 0.71 goals per 90.
40% offensive duels won.
5.28 dribbles per 90 at a 53% success rate.
2 progressive runs per 90.
0.9 smart passes per 90, 76% pass accuracy.
Cons:
21% aerial duels won.
18% loose ball duels won.
On paper rating: 9
Fit rating: 6
Olivier Giroud (34) – Chelsea, France
Market value: £4.5m
Current club: 104 apps – 37 goals, 14 assists
Current season: 16 apps – 9 goals
Injury history: Hamstring (41 days, Dec ‘17), Toe (22 days, Sep ‘16), Fractured foot (89 days, Aug ‘14)
Height: 6’4”
International caps: 105
Pros:
23% conversion rate.
4.1 recoveries per 90.
Veteran striker with a good Premier League record.
Cons:
22% aerial duels won.
0 progressive runs.
Coming to the end of his career.
On paper rating: 6
Fit rating: 5
Graziano Pellè (35) – Free agent, Italy
Market value: £585k
Most recent club: 133 apps – 63 goals, 24 assists
Most recent season: 22 apps – 8 goals, 2 assists
Injury history: Knee (17 days, Dec ‘15), Adductor (23 days, Jan ‘12)
Height: 6’4”
International caps: 20
Pros:
24% conversion rate.
57% aerial duels won.
37% loose ball duels won.
Cons:
0 progressive runs.
4 goals from open play.
25% offensive duels won.
Hasn’t played since November.
On paper rating: 3
Fit rating: 3
Marko Arnautović (31) – Shanghai SIPG, Austria
Market value: £9m
Current club: 35 apps – 17 goals, 4 assists
Current season: 18 apps – 7 goals, 1 assist
Injury history: Hamstring (29 days, Dec ‘18), MCL Knee (42 days, Mar ‘12)
Height: 6’2”
International caps: 85
Pros:
Impressive performer for Moyes in 17/18.
Can play anywhere across the front three.
Cons:
30% offensive duels won.
15% conversion rate.
0.41 progressive runs per 90.
Left West Ham on bad terms in 2019.
On paper rating: 4
Fit rating: 7
Joshua King (28) – Bournemouth, Norway
Market value: £9.9m
Current club: 179 apps – 52 goals, 18 assists
Current season: 9 apps 2 goals, 1 assist
Injury history: Thigh (15 days, Sep ‘20), Muscle fibre tear (37 days, Dec ‘19), Adductor (67 days, Nov ‘11)
Height: 6’2”
International caps: 51
Pros:
0.84 smart passes per 90.
Has PL experience with Bournemouth.
Can play anywhere across the front three.
Cons:
Yet to score a goal in the Championship this season.
22% offensive duels won.
30% aerial duels won.
On paper rating: 4
Fit rating: 7
Lassina Traoré (19) – Ajax, Burkina Faso
Market value: £7.2m
Current club: 29 apps – 12 goals, 12 assists
Current season: 18 apps – 9 goals, 9 assists
Injury history: Knock (35 days-, Dec ‘20-)
Height: 6’0”
International caps: 12
Pros:
1.14 goals per 90.
41% aerial duels won.
44% conversion rate.
Cons:
0.49 dribbles per 90 at a 33% success rate.
28% offensive duels won.
0 progressive runs.
Currently injured.
On paper rating: 6
Fit rating: 6
Adam Hložek (18) – Sparta Prague, Czechia
Market value: £10.8m
Current club: 69 apps – 17 goals, 18 assists
Current season: 7 apps – 4 goals, 6 assists
Injury history: Metatarsal fracture (138 days expected, Oct ‘20)
Height: 6’2”
International caps: 2
Pros:
0.72 goals per 90.
50% aerial duels won.
5 dribbles per 90 at a 57% success rate.
45% offensive duels won.
1.07 key passes per 90.
Cons:
1.25 recoveries per 90.
Currently injured.
On paper rating: 9
Fit rating: 6
Abdallah Sima (19) – Slavia Prague, Senegal
Market value: £7.2m
Current club: 14 apps – 10 goals, 2 assists
Current season: “”
Injury history: N/A
Height: 6’2”
Foot: Right
Pros:
1.05 goals per 90.
46% aerial duels won.
47% conversion rate.
4.97 recoveries per 90.
Cons:
69% pass accuracy.
31% offensive duels won.
Yet to complete 20 games as a senior pro.
Mostly deployed as a right winger.
On paper rating: 8
Fit rating: 4
Eddie Nketiah (21) – Arsenal, England
Market value: £18m
Current club: 57 apps – 12 goals, 1 assist
Current season: 21 apps – 5 goals, 1 assist
Injury history: N/A
Height: 5’11”
Foot: Right
Pros:
43% offensive duels won.
Has PL experience with Arsenal.
Cons:
0.25 goals per 90.
32% aerial duels won.
0.5 progressive runs per 90.
24% loose ball duels won.
On paper rating: 4
Fit rating: 5
All rights reserved. Jack Elderton. 2020. Statistical input taken from Wyscout & Fbref (Statsbomb).
Jack Elderton 