Transfer Talk: Four strikers West Ham should target in January

West Ham are in need of a quality striker.

As they fell to a 4-1 defeat at Aston Villa last weekend, it was clear that the Irons had no frontman operating at Ollie Watkins' level.

Michail Antonio has been excellent in recent years but at 33 is beginning to slow down, meaning David Moyes' side have become reliant on Jarrod Bowen's goals.

With that in mind, we consider which attackers the Hammers could target in the January transfer window ahead of their clash with Everton this afternoon.

Serhou Guirassy

Serhou Guirassy has made a remarkable start to the 2023-24 season.

The Stuttgart ace has overshadowed Harry Kane in the Bundesliga, netting 14 times in just eight appearances.

Inevitably, such a rich vein of form has led to speculation over a potential high-profile move.

Tottenham and West Ham have both been linked with the 27-year-old, who reportedly has a £17.5million release clause in his contract.

Guirassy's return is all the more impressive considering he has only scored one penalty, though there may be some doubts about whether his current form is sustainable as the Guinea international has only registered an xG of 5.91.

Hugo Ekitike

Paris Saint-Germain forward Hugo Ekitike looks likely to be on the move in January.

The 21-year-old has found game time hard to come by this season, with the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Goncalo Ramos ahead of him in the pecking order.

Ekitike scored three goals in 25 Ligue 1 appearances last season after joining PSG from Reims — and he was the subject of reported interest from Crystal Palace in the summer.

Now West Ham are among the teams linked with a potential move for 6ft 2in attacker, who could certainly be a long-term solution to their No9 problem.

Discussing the France Under-20s international, former Reims manager Oscar Garcia said: "There is something very special about him. 

"He's young, and he has the quality to become a very good player — but also a lot to improve on."

Youssef En-Nesyri

Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri was a target in the summer but West Ham were unable to complete a deal.

Whether the Hammers will reignite their interest in January remains to be seen — but the 26-year-old would certainly be a quality addition.

He scored 18 goals in all competitions last season and has been the focal point of Sevilla's attack for several years.

With two Europa League titles to his name, En-Nesyri's pedigree in Europe would also be valuable for West Ham as they target more continental glory.

Adam Hlozek

Bayer Leverkusen forward Adam Hlozek could represent a more youthful option for West Ham.

The versatile 21-year-old, who is capable of playing centrally or out wide, scored seven goals in 44 appearances for Leverkusen last season after joining from Sparta Prague.

But he is yet to start a league game in 2023-24, with Xabi Alonso's side flying high at the Bundesliga's summit.

Despite seeing just 46 minutes of top-flight action this term, Hlozek has managed to score once and create three chances.

The prospect of increased playing time in East London could well appeal to the Czech international.