West Ham United have endured a troublesome begin to the brand new Premier League season, having discovered themselves within the relegation zone previous to the current worldwide break after slumping to 5 defeats from their opening seven top-flight video games.
That dismal starting has come as one thing of a shock following what was a formidable summer season of recruitment for the Hammers, notably securing the arrivals of the likes of Lucas Paqueta and Gianluca Scamacca as a part of eight main offers.
The latter man, specifically, has did not make an impression in his transient outings within the league to this point, having but to register a objective or an help after making only a solitary begin following his £35.5m swap from Sassuolo.
Whereas the 6 foot 5 menace has netted three occasions within the Europa Convention League to this point, there could nicely already be issues over simply how nicely the 23-year-old will be capable of adapt to life in England, as he runs the chance of becoming a member of a plethora of different strikers who had been unable to make the grade in east London.
One man who has already confirmed his high quality within the Premier League thus far this time period, nevertheless, is Fulham talisman Aleksandar Mitrovic, with the Serbian brute having netted six targets in simply seven league video games for the newly-promoted Cottagers.
That’s noteworthy as a result of 28-year-old’s hyperlinks to the London Stadium over time, with the Irons having seemingly repeatedly missed out on the signature of a participant who may nicely have thrived in David Moyes’ facet.
Studies way back to December 2016 reveal that the then-Newcastle United striker – who had joined the Magpies on a £13m deal in 2015 – was seemingly a goal for the Hammers after struggling for a daily position at St James’ Park, having additionally then been provided to GSB a yr later by the Tynesiders.
Once more in the summertime of 2019, there have been reviews that Manuel Pellegrini was targetting each Mitrovic and Valencia’s Maxi Gomez, though in the end ended up with neither, as West Ham splashed the conflict on £45m man, Sebastian Haller, as a substitute.
Quick ahead to final yr and but once more rumours had been circulating that Moyes and co had been plotting a transfer for the 74-cap gem on account of his Championship exploits, with membership insider ExWHUemployee confirming that curiosity.
As it’s, the £22.5m-rated powerhouse has eluded the east London outfit to this point, with that incapability to get a deal executed over time having greater than come again to chew them, as the previous Anderlecht man has confirmed himself an actual “prolific” determine of late, within the phrases of Mike Ryan.
Would Mitrovic have been a great match at West Ham?
No, not satisfied
Sure, completely!
The attacking “monster” – as dubbed by journalist Andy Naylor – has loved an actual revival over the previous yr or so, following what had been a disappointing 2020/21 marketing campaign wherein he scored simply three top-tier targets, whereas additionally having missed a penalty as his nation did not qualify for Euro 2020.
The next season sparked a change in fortunes for the 6 foot 2 machine, nevertheless, as he plundered a record-breaking haul of 43 targets within the Championship alone, to assist fireplace Marco Silva’s facet to promotion.
Having already began the brand new season strongly for his membership, the £60k-per-week man has additionally been in positive type for his nation, most just lately bagging a hat-trick in a 4-1 win over Sweden, having helped fireplace Serbia to the World Cup final yr after sealing a shock overcome Portugal.
A participant with a wealth of expertise and plain high quality in entrance of objective – with 188 membership profession targets to his identify to this point – Mitrovic might be a determine that West Ham proceed to rue, notably ought to Scamacca’s early woes proceed.
