West Ham United have identified Venezia striker Joel Pohjanpalo as a potential replacement for Michail Antonio.
According to the Daily Mirror, Michail Antonio wants a new challenge and West Ham are now looking at Pohjanpalo as they prepare for the Jamaica international’s possible departure this summer.
It would not be a surprise to see the former leave the London Stadium during the current transfer window.
In January, Antonio did not rule out a winter exit when speaking on The Footballer’s Football Podcast, so it is clear that he is open to a move away from the Hammers.
The 33-year-old is not the only striker who could be departing West Ham, though. Gianluca Scamacca looks like he could be returning to Italy, with the Evening Standard reporting that Inter Milan are confident of signing the former Sassuolo man.
Joel Pohjanpalo would be a gamble
Pohjanpalo is a name that may not get too many West Ham supporters excited.While the 28-year-old Finland international had quite a productive campaign last season, scoring 19 goals in 38 appearances, he was playing in the second tier of Italian football.
Ultimately, it makes him a bit of a risk, especially if he is coming in to be the Hammers’ main man.
David Moyes will still have Danny Ings, though, who could help share the goalscoring burden with Pohjanpalo if he does go on to join the east London club this summer.
Ings’ West Ham career has got off to a slow start. The Englishman scored just twice for his new side last term, but he is still a very experienced striker who has proven himself in the top flight.
It looks like, then, that there could be a shake up in attack at the London Stadium, with Antonio potentially departing and Pohjanpalo possibly arriving to replace the ex-Nottingham Forest star.
