Despite bringing in some of the most in-demand Premier League players during the winter transfer window last month, Slaven Bilic is yet to fill the void left by his terrible decision of loaning in Simone Zaza from Juventus last summer.
The Italian forward’s loan has since been cancelled and he is sent back to Italy. Hence, one of the Hammers’ first targets this summer transfer window would a striker. Bilic can only hope that Andy Carroll keeps up his scoring form intact and remains injury free for the rest of the season as West Ham aim to end the season on a high.
The Croat has learnt from his mistakes last summer and he is no more chasing unrealistic targets now; the January signings are proof to that. And according to reports, he has already identified his for striker next season in Real Sociedad’s Willian Jose. Although he is not the only transfer target but a closer look at his attributes shows he pretty much fits the requirements.
The 25-year-old has been in impressive form this season, scoring nine league goals as well as providing three assists in 20 appearances for the club. Sociedad has been decent this campaign sitting comfortably in the fifth position in the La Liga table and the Brazilian has played a significant part in their run.
An out-and-out centre-forward, Jose can be lethal in the central role up front. He excels in collecting the ball and slotting it in with consistency. And his big frame of 189 cm makes him a threat from indirect set-pieces too. He has this knack of falling deep and providing some of the finest through balls for the wingers to move in and finish off.
A youth product of Brazilian side Grêmio Barueri Futebol Ltda. B, Jose moved to Uruguayan side Club Deportivo Maldonado in 2011 from where he spent some crucial loan stints at Sau Paulo, Santos FC, Gremio. After his impressive displays, here, his loan stints started crossing continents as he landed at Real Madrid Castilla in 2014, although he was released at the end of the season.
However, it didn’t stop there as he also played for Real Zaragoza and UD Las Palmas while still being a Deportivo Maldonado player. It was last summer that Sociedad bought him from the South-American club. West Ham will definitely have a tough time persuading Real Sociedad to part with the player they only signed a year ago, and who has been quite impactful for them.
