Frank McAvennie has pleaded with new West Ham United boss Julen Lopetegui to sign a striker and has suggested that Danny Ings might get a chance under the Spaniard.
Lopetegui is expected to drastically overhaul the style of play at the London Stadium, leading a shift from a counter-attacking style to a more possession-based one.
And McAvennie – speaking exclusively to West Ham Zone – feels a new centre-forward would bring the best out of Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Paqueta and Jarrod Bowen, but thinks Ings could be given a chance.
“I don’t think West Ham was ever made for counter-attacking football, was it? You see that team when we’ve played open,” he said.
“When [the style is] counter-attacking, we’re not counter-attacking, we don’t get it – but then [when] we’re up the park and we get the ball and you see us playing, you’re thinking, ‘My God, they’re different class.’
“When they’re counter-attacking and they’re breaking away and it doesn’t happen, [Kudus, Paqueta and Bowen] still come out with the ball – and that’s when you know [they’re] good players. I love watching them, I love watching Kudus, I love watching Paqueta, he’ll backheel it through somebody’s legs and it looks as if he loves the game. And Bowen’s just Bowen, he just loves everything about West Ham, doesn’t he?
“I’d love to see us bring in a decent striker. No disrespect to [Michail] Antonio, but he’s 34 now. He can still do a job for West Ham, but I’d love to see us bring in a proper centre-forward [that] these boys [Kudus, Paqueta and Bowen] can play off. Somebody that can lead the line.
“I know Danny Ings is a good striker but not for West Ham. He might actually get a chance with [Lopetegui] coming in because he might play in different ways.”
Will Danny Ings get another chance at West Ham United?
Lopetegui will surely cast his eye over the playing squad in its entirety over pre-season, but the Hammers will surely be making plans even now to recruit an additional centre-forward.
If Ings impresses in training, he could be afforded a new opportunity to stake his claim, but he and Antonio alone are likely to be entrusted in the long term, with both players over 30 and linked with an exit.
Expect a new face at the London Stadium to go with the old ones.
