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West Ham United are interested in Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi.
During a question and answer session, The Athletic reporter Daniel Taylor revealed that the Hammers ‘still like’ the Nigerian striker, who could be available this summer.
David Moyes was keen to sign Awoniyi in January, but a move never materialised. While the Scottish manager has left the club, it appears Awoniyi is still admired by some key figures at the club.
It’s unclear whether we will make a move for the 26-year-old this summer, although a striker is firmly at the top of Julen Lopetegui’s wishlist.
Awoniyi endured a 2023/24 season plagued by injuries. After undergoing surgery to correct a groin problem, he missed up to 12 games for Forest between mid-November and late January.
Despite his injury issues, Awoniyi contributed to Forest’s Premier League survival with six goals and three assists in 20 league games. He could be the ideal successor to Michail Antonio this summer.
West Ham must be wary of his injury record
He could feature as a target man, given his intimidating strength and exceptional hold-up play. He could also play on the shoulders of the last defender, emphasising his versatility as an out-and-out centre-forward.
His ability makes him a high-value target, and he could come in handy in Lopetegui’s revamped squad, but we must be wary of the striker’s concerning injury record.
In addition to the 12 games he missed in 2023/24, Awoniyi’s groin issues also kept him out for 15 games last term, so we must consider the risks before making a move.
Interestingly, Awoniyi only missed 11 games during his two-year stay with Union Berlin in Germany.
He is valued at around £24 million on Transfermarkt, and despite his injury problems, he could be a decent acquisition for us.
Awoniyi still has three years left on his contract at City Ground, and Forest could be looking to recoup more than the club-record £17m they shelled out to sign him in 2022.
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