In a recent report, La Nuova Venezia claimed that West Ham United are keeping a keen eye on Venezia forward Joel Pohjanpalo this summer. It has been mentioned that the Hammers are hoping to secure the services of the Finnish striker in this off-season.
Pohjanpalo’s Impressive Form In Italian Football
Pohjanpalo enjoyed a decent campaign in Serie B after producing a run of productive performances as the focal point of Venezia’s attack. The Helsinki-born attacker has banged in 19 goals and earned seven assists in 40 appearances for the Italian side this season on all fronts.
The 28-year-old has proven himself to be a consistent goal-scorer in the Italian second division. However, the jury is still out on whether he can maintain his good form in top-flight football.
His current deal with the Italian club is set to run out in the summer of 2025. Therefore, it won’t be easy for the Hammers to sign on the cheap during this transfer window.
Is Pohjanpalo A Good Option For West Ham United Boss David Moyes?
Pohjanpalo is proficient at creating space for himself to get some strikes in on-target. He can be a prolific finisher in front of the opposition goal when he is playing with confidence on the field. The Finnish talent can also engineer a few promising chances for his teammates up top.
Pohjanpalo is primarily a centre-forward but can also function as a secondary striker alongside someone else in the final third. Hence, he would be a decent option for the Hammers to pursue ahead of the new campaign.
We can expect Pohjanpalo to bring more goals to David Moyes’ frontline at the East London club. He is good enough to rival Michail Antonio for a regular starting spot at the London Stadium next season.
Furthermore, Pohjanpalo would be a good replacement for Gianluca Scamacca who is facing an uncertain future at West Ham. However, there are some serious concerns over whether the Finnish sensation can cope with the physical nature and high intensity of Premier League football.
At 28, Pohjanpalo is currently playing in his prime and would no doubt enhance the overall depth of Moyes’ match-day squad if the Hammers can find a way to get a deal done for him during this summer transfer period.
