West Ham came into the summer 2024 transfer window with a pretty darn good attacking quartet of Mohammed Kudus, Michail Antonio, Lucas Paqueta, and Jarrod Bowen.
However, West Ham were missing depth on the wings, as well as a true No. 9 who could anchor the attack as a fox-in-the-box poacher. After hiring Julen Lopetegui to replace David Moyes, signing that kind of striker became their priority.
Now, West Ham have their man in former Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen striker Niclas Fullkrug. In addition to the German international, West Ham have also signed Brazilian right wing prospect Luis Guilherme and promising Leeds left winger Crysencio Summerville to add quality depth and potential future stars to either wing.
The Hammers aren’t done, though, as they are focused on signing a versatile all-around attacking midfielder in Carlos Soler, though the PSG player’s stock is at a bit of a low after a poor season-and-a-half with the Ligue 1 side.
Soler has scored just six goals in the last two seasons, but, previously, he scored 11 goals in two straight campaigns for Valencia in LaLiga, which is probably why Lopetegui is so keen on the 27-year-old.
According to a report from Ignacio Camacho of Diario AS, West Ham are now on the verge of completing a 20 million euro transfer for Carlos Soler, who has also generated interest from Everton and Brighton within the Premier League.
The deal will be for a loan for the 2024/25 season, but it will include a mandatory 20 million euro purchase option at the end of the season, making it, effectively, a 20 million euro signing for West Ham.
That’s precisely Soler’s market value, as he was a Spanish national team player just a year ago and one of the most successful attacking players in LaLiga for multiple seasons at Valencia before joining Luis Enrique in an ill-fated move to Paris.
Soler won’t be an every-game starter for West Ham, but he could fight for a spot in the XI with good performances under Lopetegui. At the very least, he is high-quality depth for a West Ham side looking to return back to European football.
