The Hammers might be able to get away with it for a few months. However, as the schedule tightens, that decision will be put to the test.
Especially if West Ham, as David Moyes has mentioned numerous times, wants to continue competing for European places in the Premier League.
Moyes has stated that he sees Jarrod Bowen developing into a centre-forward.
West Ham have been linked with Spain international Brahim Diaz, who is said to be open to a move.
He has an excellent record converting wingers into forwards with Michail Antonio and Marko Arnautovic during his time at West Ham.
Antonio, 34 in March, has been a great servant for West Ham and will continue to have an important role at the club.
But he cannot play every game and against certain opposition West Ham simply require a more clinical, ruthless forward. So Bowen moving to the forward role will creat space elsewhere.
And now West Ham have been named in an exciting new link to Spain international Brahim Diaz and the report claims he’s open to the move.
The likes of Goal and TEAMTalk have reported on claims emerging from Spain that West Ham are monitoring Real Madrid bit-part attacking midfielder Diaz.
“The Spaniard – who operates primarily in an attacking midfield role akin to Paqueta – returned to parent club Real over the summer…
“However, he’s found chances at the Bernabeu in desperately short supply and has been afforded just one start across all competitions this season. As such, the report claims Diaz is ‘considering leaving the Spanish capital to try his luck elsewhere.’”
Attacker fits the profile of targets under Steidten, and West Ham may have openings to fill in the near future.
If these reports are in any way accurate then the only explanation is that Diaz is being eyed as a potential replacement for Lucas Paqueta should his collapsed move to Man City be resurrected in the future.
Although with Pablo Fornals expected to leave in January or next summer and the futures of both Said Benrahma and Mawel Cornet unclear there will be holes to fill at West Ham in the not-too-distant future.
So the reports regarding Diaz could be true.
Time will tell, but Diaz, 24, is the type of player West Ham had been looking for since Tim Steidten took over as technical director.
