Five free agents West Ham United can still sign after missing out on Jesse Lingard

Despite not adding firepower up top during the transfer window, West Ham can still sign these strikers.
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A disappointing window for West Ham by all accounts, as key targets either stayed at their club or moved elsewhere.

Targets they had heavy interest in included Jesse Lingard, Nat Phillips and Duja Caleta-Car, and not one of them ended up making the move to East London.

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Phillips, who has Champions League experience with Liverpool, went to Championship high-flyers Bournemouth, Lingard stayed at Manchester United and Caleta-Car ended the window staying put at Marseille.

After selling Ivorian international Sebastian Haller to Ajax in January 2021, West Ham have failed to replace the player, and do not have adequate depth to cover Michail Antonio.

Here’s five free agents West Ham can still snap up, despite the transfer window slamming shut.

Diego Costa

Recently released from Atletico Miniero, where he scored four goals in 15 games to help them clinch their domestic title, Costa is now a free agent.

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He was reportedly offered to Barcelona to sort out their striker crisis, but the Spanish giants opted for Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang on deadline day.

The striker has Premier League pedigree as he won the league with Chelsea, and was often the centre of controversy as his aggressive style of play was sometimes deemed too much.

An outstanding record at Chelsea, scoring 52 goals in 89 games, proves he could still do a job in the league, and only being 33, would be a great short-term addition.

Best result: Arsenal 0-1 Swansea City (2015). Late drama saw the Welsh side spring a surprise over the Gunners, and Monk's diligently organised side bagged a late winner courtesy of French forward Bafetimbi Gomis. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)Best result: Arsenal 0-1 Swansea City (2015). Late drama saw the Welsh side spring a surprise over the Gunners, and Monk's diligently organised side bagged a late winner courtesy of French forward Bafetimbi Gomis. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)
Best result: Arsenal 0-1 Swansea City (2015). Late drama saw the Welsh side spring a surprise over the Gunners, and Monk's diligently organised side bagged a late winner courtesy of French forward Bafetimbi Gomis. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)

Bafetimbi Gomis

The striker is without a club after being released from Saudi club Al-Hilal, where over four years he scored an incredible 81 goals in 106 games.

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Despite being 36, he, like Costa, has also played in England’s top flight, as he spent three years at now-Championship club Swansea back when they were in the Premier League.

A physical presence at 6ft 1in, Gomis could prove to be a problem for defenders.

Hal-Robson Kanu

A shining star in Wales’ Euro 2016 run, when they made the semi-finals, Hal Robson Kanu is a free agent after he left West Bromwich Albion following their relegation in 2021.

Just 21 goals in 143 appearances doesn’t seem like a good record, but surrounded by the likes of Said Benrahma and Jarrod Bowen, they could provide the service.

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Despite representing Wales, he was born in Acton a mere 16 miles from West Ham so would need little time in settling in.

Who can forget that wonder goal against Belgium, where he took two defenders out with a single turn before slotting the ball past Thibaut Courtois,

Former Everton striker Oumar Niasse. Picture: Mark Robinson/Getty ImagesFormer Everton striker Oumar Niasse. Picture: Mark Robinson/Getty Images
Former Everton striker Oumar Niasse. Picture: Mark Robinson/Getty Images

Oumar Niasse

Without a club since 2021, after an ill-fated short-term deal with Huddersfield where he never made an appearance, the 31-year-old comes with Premier League experience.

Spells in England’s top flight with Everton, Hull and Cardiff saw the striker make more than 60 appearances in the Premier League.

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He has played top-flight football in multiple countries in Europe, and for a short-term deal, could prove to be a good move.

Lacina Traore

A slightly left-field choice, Traore has always struggled to find a long-term club, with the most appearances he has ever made for one club in his professional career being 47, where he turned out for Stade d’Abidjan between 2007 and 2008.

Dipping his toe in the Premier League with just a solitary performance for Everton in 2014, Traore has still turned out for reputable clubs, such as Monaco and CSKA Moscow.

Nicknamed ‘the Tree’ due to his height being 6ft 7in, Traore could be a nightmare for many defenders, and at still just 31 could give the club a couple of years still at his peak.

Other strikers include: Elkeson, Ze Luis, Yaya Sanogo, Mauro Zarate, Adrian Lopez, Welliton, Diego Tardelli.