West Ham step up January striker push with Joshua Zirkzee firmly on radar

West Ham are accelerating plans for at least three January additions, headlined by a centre-forward, with Joshua Zirkzee emerging as a prime target. Multiple UK outlets indicate the club want a physical, link-play No.9 who can press and create space for the wide runners—precisely Zirkzee’s profile. With AFCON likely to stretch depth and a demanding winter schedule looming, a short turnaround is expected. Manchester United’s position remains pivotal; some voices insist the striker is not pushing to leave, while others suggest a deal—loan or permanent—can be structured. Either way, the fit is clear and West Ham are ready to act decisively.

The January window is approaching as West Ham evaluate a multi-signing plan to reinforce attack and depth during a congested winter period and potential AFCON absences. UK journalist reports have linked Joshua Zirkzee (currently at Manchester United) as an attainable target who fits the stylistic need for a pressing, creative focal point. While some debate surrounds the player’s appetite for a move, the market context—fixture congestion, squad balance, and price discipline—sets the stage for rapid negotiations once the window opens. Discussions among fans also reflect loan-versus-permanent scenarios and valuation benchmarks near the £50m range.

🚨 NEW: Nuno Espirito Santo has made it clear to the West Ham hierarchy that he needs at least three new signings in January, including a striker. One potential option is Joshua Zirkzee, who is desperate to leave Old Trafford. [@alex_crook]

@UtdXclusive

Impact Analysis

From a tactical lens, Zirkzee would be a near-seamless plug-in for West Ham’s front line. His hybrid skill set—false-nine tendencies, strong back-to-goal play, and deft layoffs—would unlock vertical runs for Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus while creating inside channels for a roaming No.10. In transition, he can receive long diagonals, pin centre-backs, and initiate third-man combinations, a pattern that West Ham have sought to sharpen against low blocks and in counter-heavy game plans.

Beyond shape and sequences, the January timing is crucial. AFCON call-ups can thin key positions and shift creative burden to a single focal point; Zirkzee’s hold-up and selfless movement mitigate that risk by sustaining attacks when wide threats are doubled. Economically, a deal structured as an initial loan—with an obligation or option tied to appearances or European qualification—would align risk with performance. Manchester United’s calculus hinges on squad depth and their own winter schedule: if they guard against injuries and rotation, they may resist a permanent sale but entertain a premium loan with recall protections.

For West Ham, this move signals ambition without overreach. Secure a pressing nine who complements the current core, and the team’s ceiling rises immediately: more sustained territory, higher xG from cut-backs, and improved late-game control. If negotiations move early in the window, integration during a critical run of fixtures could swing multiple tight matches.

Reaction

Fan chatter splits along three lines. First, the pragmatists: they argue a loan is the smartest path—low commitment now, big upside later—summed up by the refrain “loan deal with no buy option,” protecting flexibility if form dips or injuries bite elsewhere. Second, the valuers: they peg any permanent package at £50m or more, citing age, Premier League adaptation, and scarcity of press-capable strikers in winter, and dismiss cut-price talk as unrealistic. Third, the skeptics: they flat-out challenge the premise that the striker wants out, calling the noise “clickbait” and highlighting that previous approaches were rebuffed without player agitation.

There’s also context-led caution from some who point to AFCON as a complicating factor for both clubs—depth matters in January, and neither side wants to be caught short. A minority air frustration at rumor cycles in peak window hype. Yet among West Ham supporters, optimism is unmistakable: Zirkzee’s blend of link-play and physicality is exactly what they’ve asked for, and many are already theory-crafting his chemistry with Bowen and Kudus. Meanwhile, United-leaning voices warn that letting him go mid-season without a ready-made replacement would be a strategic misstep.

Social reactions

Desperate to leave? 😭 did you see his reaction to the win on Sunday?

Ye (@YARGRAN1)

Sounds like clickbait BS

Revolutionizer (@Revvolutionizer)

Zirkzee doesn’t look so desperate to leave in any video I see of him

Chicky (@Chickytv18)

Prediction

Most plausible scenario: West Ham push for an initial loan with a sizeable option or obligation, structured around appearances or team outcomes (e.g., European qualification). That mitigates risk for both clubs while giving West Ham immediate functionality at No.9. If Manchester United insist on retention, a creative loan with an expensive break or recall clause could still materialize, especially if they add attacking depth late in January.

Permanent move: the benchmark hovers around £45–55m. A front-loaded fee with achievable add-ons would satisfy market norms for an under-25 striker already acclimatized to England. If West Ham move quickly in the first fortnight, they gain time to bed Zirkzee in before the schedule stiffens—critical for extracting early points and momentum.

Wild card: competition from another Premier League side needing a pressing forward could force West Ham to raise their offer or sweeten the structure (sell-on percentage, performance bonuses). Even then, West Ham’s clear pathway to starts and a defined tactical role is a compelling pitch. Net-net, expect a strong, proactive bid early in the window; if United show even a hint of openness, West Ham are positioned to close.

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Conclusion

Strip away the noise and the football logic wins: Zirkzee is a snug tactical fit for West Ham’s blueprint. He offers connective tissue between midfield and wide threats, elevates pressing triggers, and sustains attacks when opponents sit deep. The club’s need is immediate and quantifiable—a reliable focal point to convert territory into chances and chances into points during the most attritional phase of the season.

Market-wise, West Ham can navigate this efficiently. A loan-to-buy approach protects budget integrity while fast-tracking the upgrade they’ve lacked. If Manchester United hold firm, a well-structured loan with right-of-first-refusal or premium option still delivers value. Either path projects upside without compromising medium-term plans.

Momentum matters in January, and decisive clubs set the tone. With a clear role on offer and strong supporting cast, West Ham can present Zirkzee a platform to thrive immediately. Expect them to push hard, early—and if United engage, this is the kind of deal that gets over the line.