According to a report by Claret & Hugh, West Ham United are looking to make a move for the Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic next summer. The former Newcastle United man’s goalscoring form has been the only positive thing amidst a rather gloomy season for the Cottagers, as they are set to face relegation at the end of this season.
The Serbian ace has notched up ten goals so far this season for his current club but has failed to lead them to safety in the Premier League table. With Fulham almost certain to face the drop to the Championship, it is reported that the Hammers are interested in their attacker and might table a bid for him in the next transfer window.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side have faced a lot of trouble this season as far as their attacking department is concerned. While summer signing Andriy Yarmolenko has been sidelined for the rest of the season, the likes of Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez and Lucas Perez have not been able to show their real potential in front of the goal. Marko Arnautovic has done the bulk of the scoring and he would definitely appreciate the arrival of someone able enough to share his responsibilities.
In this situation, Mitrovic could be a handy addition to the West Ham United squad. The 24-year-old has proven his quality time and again at the top level and Pellegrini would be more than happy to have someone of his calibre leading the line for the Hammers alongside Arnautovic.
Besides being a poacher in the box, the Serbian forward has a stern physical attribute which gives him an upper hand over the opposition defenders on most occasions. His ability to shoot and find the back of the net from a variety of ranges could just be the missing part in the attacking jigsaw for the former Premier League winning manager.
Fulham are set to return to the Championship but the same can’t be said about Mitrovic. The former Newcastle United player had a great campaign with the Lilywhites in the Championship after the Magpies sent him to Craven Cottage on loan in January last season. However, it is quite unlikely that he would like to ply his trade in the second tier once more.
West Ham United, on the other hand, have done well to get themselves to a comfortable position in the Premier League against all odds. Though they fought valiantly despite all their shortcomings, Pellegrini is wise enough to understand the importance of new and able players in the side for its further strengthening.
The addition of Mitrovic would not only provide his side with variety in the attack, but it would also help them get their attacking pedigree in order to compete for a top-eight finish next season. So it would be a wise decision for Pellegrini to go in for the Serbian ace and beef up the West Ham attack.
