Moyes can unearth next £75m-rated talent by unleashing WHU gem "getting rave reviews" - opinion

Despite West Ham United’s desperate need for a second option up front, with Michail Antonio having been David Moyes’ only recognised centre-forward since the sale of Sebastien Haller 13 months ago, the Hammers once again failed to seal the signing of a new forward in the January transfer window.

On the face of it, this was not through the lack of trying, with the Irons reportedly submitting a club-record bid totalling £60m for Benfica striker Darwin Nunez, as well as seeing an 11th-hour move for Atalanta’s Duvan Zapata fall through – although the 58-year-old’s decision to leave the vast majority of his business until the final day of the window quite rightly raised questions.

However, with the transfer market now well and truly closed, West Ham will have to continue their fight to secure a top-four finish in the league, in addition to competing in the Europa League and FA Cup, with Antonio being their only senior option to lead the line.

Having said that, perhaps Moyes already possesses something of an answer to his lack of attacking options in the form of the highly-rated West Ham U23 centre-forward, Sonny Perkins.

Indeed, it would appear as if there are extremely high hopes for the 18-year-old hitman amongst those in the know at the club, with ExWHUemployee stating of the England U18 international: “One player to pay attention to is a West Ham youngster called Sonny Perkins.

“This is someone I’ve spoken about on the podcast before as a talent, and he’s really beginning to stand out now at academy level, really getting rave reviews. Obviously, he’s performing on the international stage as well for his age, and he is one to keep an eye on.

“From what I’ve heard in the academy circles, he could be the next Declan Rice. So