Obafemi Martins could be heading to West Ham United in January, as David Gold admits they are paying the price for not signing a striker in the summer.
The Hammers forked out £15.5million to complete the permanent signing of Andy Carroll, but the former Liverpool forward has yet to play this season due to injury. And although Carlton Cole was recently given a new contract to return to Upton Park, there is no doubt that the Londoners have a lack of options in attack.
Indeed, this has often led to Sam Allardyce playing with no recognised striker, and it is telling that only Crystal Palace, Cardiff City and Sunderland have registered less than their 12 goals in the Premier League. And co-chairman Gold admits they should have signed another frontman whilst they had the chance during the summer window.
“I thought we had spent our money wisely,” he said in The Sun. “Clearly, we should have bought a centre forward. That’s my opinion. I’m not overly sure that not bringing in a centre-forward as cover for Andy was the best idea. But nobody thought Andy would be injured – and it won’t be until the next year before we see him. I’m hugely disappointed with the position we are in. No stone will be left unturned to bring in new personnel in January.”
Ahead of the visit of the bottom-placed Black Cats on Saturday afternoon, only goal difference is keeping West Ham out of the bottom three. But despite their troubles, Gold is expected to show faith in Allardyce and will supply him with the opportunity to bolster his squad in the January window, with Nigerian international Martins a reported target.
The 29-year-old played under Allardyce during their time at Newcastle United together, and he also had a short spell at Birmingham City in 2011. Now of Seattle Sounders, the Daily Telegraph claim the striker could be available in the New Year for a loan spell, as he looks to maintain his sharpness ahead of the World Cup Finals in Brazil next summer.
