West Ham United have been seriously linked with a move for FC Porto-owned Juventus forward Francisco Conceicao.
The Hammers are lacking depth in attacking areas due to a combination of injury woes and atrocious recruitment.
West Ham bolstered their attacking ranks with Crysencio Summerville, Luis Guilherme and Niclas Fullkrug last summer, but they’ve all struggled to make any lasting impact.
Summerville has only shown flashes of his brilliance. Fullkrug isn’t the long-term solution to West Ham’s striker woes, and they would have been better off letting Guilherme move to the Saudi Pro League.
Despite spending over £100 million on new recruits, West Ham are lacking a striker, a game-changing left winger and a natural back-up for captain Jarrod Bowen.
They have a long way to go to rectify the damage done by former technical director Tim Steidten, but landing a player of Conceicao’s calibre would be a start.
Conceicao would be an ideal back-up for Bowen
Conceicao has broken through as one of the best young talents in Europe since joining Juventus on loan from Porto.
The 22-year-old could be available for £25 million next summer, and West Ham must get to him first.
The Portuguese forward has established himself as a fan favourite with his flick, tricks and never-say-die attitude this season.
Juventus are keen to sign Conceicao on a permanent deal, but West Ham must put up a fight to secure his signature.
Conceicao ranks in the 97th percentile for progressive carries, 92nd percentile for successful take-ons, and 75th percentile for progressive passes received this season.
He has returned five goals and five assists in 26 games across all competitions while creating five big chances in Serie A.
Conceicao is far from the finished article, but his upside is outrageous.
He’d undoubtedly be a shrewd acquisition for West Ham and would be the perfect understudy for Bowen on the right flank.
