Pundit tells slams West Ham for chasing 'unrealistic' transfer targets

West Ham are perhaps already feeling the effects of a quiet January transfer window as results in the Premier League have taken a dip in recent weeks. 

Whilst a top-four challenge is still on the cards, the Hammers will need to buck the trend of their current form in order to stop their hopes derailing altogether. 

This could in part be due to fatigue setting in as the exploits of the season so far take a toll. 

Having missed the chance to strengthen the squad during the mid-season market, talkSPORT correspondent Alex Crook has little sympathy for the Irons’ situation. 

“They ended the window chasing unrealistic targets, like Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha at Leeds. They tried to get Darwin Nunez from Benfica – Brighton tried to sign him last summer and it proved impossible. They should have gone for (Wout) Weghorst. He was a brilliant option and could have given them that lift like Jesse Lingard gave them last season.”

Signed for £12million on deadline day (Mail), Weghorst has one goal and two assists in four appearances in England so far. 

This comes as usually talismanic striker Michail Antonio suffers a six-game goalless run. 

Although it’s certainly fair to lament the business, or lack thereof, suggesting Weghorst was the answer is wide of the mark. 

David Moyes undoubtedly needed to bring quality additions into the squad in order to maintain a top-four push, but the giant Dutchman would’ve been a throwback to the ultimately doomed capture of Sebastien Haller. 

Whilst signings of the level of Raphinha, Kalvin Phillips and Darwin Nunez would be welcomed, such last-ditch attempts were always unlikely to end fruitless and did seem rather desperate from the club.