According to a recent report by the BBC, Premier League strugglers West Ham United are said to be one of the multiple clubs targeting a move for Genk’s Tanzanian international striker Mbwana Samatta. The 26-year-old has also been linked with a transfer to Newcastle United, but considering the situation that West Ham United currently find themselves in, it’s the Hammers who need attacking reinforcements more urgently.
What Is Missing In This West Ham United Squad?
Manuel Pellegrini has always looked like he knew what he was doing in the transfer market. Although the signings that his Hammers side made were nothing short of extraordinary on paper, things haven’t gone quite the way he would’ve expected. The London club broke their transfer record to bring in French striker Sebastian Haller – a move that has yet to pay dividends so far this term.
The former Manchester City manager has spent nearly £150m over the last couple of seasons, but this isn’t being reflected in the team’s playing style. The likes of Brazilian international Felipe Anderson and Andriy Yarmolenko were acquired with massive expectations on their shoulders, but are yet to really apply themselves at the London Stadium. Although the former is arguably their most important player but his influence within the team has begun to deplete.
Another seemingly failed transfer that the Hammers conducted was for Spanish star Pablo Fornals, who’s struggled to make any impact since making the switch from La Liga. Despite the deep and rather expensive talent pool at Pellegrini’s disposal, he’s had to depend on players like Robert Snodgrass and Aaron Cresswell to get the goals for his side this season.
What Would Mbwana Samatta Add To West Ham United?
The Tanzanian international is a physical and rugged striker who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty in the process of getting a goal. He is fairly tall and certainly knows how to make his presence felt in the opposition box. Able to hold off most defenders with ease, the 26-year-old is an excellent finisher once he gets into threatening positions, and is one of those players who seem to have a sixth sense about where the goal is at all times.
He is quite fast for his size too, but how he uses his physical superiority to get the better of defenders could be a pretty big hit in the Premier League. From a West Ham United point of view, it would seem like Samatta might be the perfect striker for them. He boasts Haller’s finishing and physical presence, while also being capable of dribbling past a defender with ease, like Michael Antonio.
Should Manuel Pellegrini Make A Winter Move For The Tanzanian?
The powerful attacker has been in excellent form for Genk so far this season with six goals from 14 league games and has proven his worth against Premier League opposition by delivering even against Liverpool in the Champions League. The Hammers’ top scorer only has four goals this term, and as a team, they’ve only found the back of the net 14 times. All the warning signs are beginning to pop up at the same time for West Ham, and in a situation like this, a natural goalscorer like Samatta might be the perfect fix.
