“Carlton Cole LOSES IT as West Ham Locks in MEGA Deal with Sensational Rising Star!”

West Ham United scored just 46 goals in the Premier League this season, the third-lowest tally outside the relegated teams.

As a result, the Hammers are reportedly eyeing reinforcements, including Wycombe striker Richard Kone and Brazilian forward Yuri Alberto, in a bid to boost their attacking options.

Despite the need for signings, West Ham’s academy remains a key strength, and there’s hope that youth talents could help solve their issues up front.

A recent example is Elisha Sowunmi, a promising 17-year-old who has signed his first professional contract with the club, as confirmed via Instagram on 3 June.

The versatile forward started every match during the club’s successful U18 Premier League Cup run.

Former striker Carlton Cole was among those to congratulate him, commenting, “Well done bro.”

The club’s rich history of developing talent continues, having produced stars like Declan Rice and Frank Lampard. Now, Sowunmi aims to follow in their footsteps and break into the first team.

This could prove especially important given West Ham’s financial constraints under Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) heading into the transfer window.

New manager Graham Potter is already under pressure and may be limited to a sell-to-buy approach. In this context, the emergence of academy players like Sowunmi could be a game-changer.

If several young players make the leap into the senior squad, it could save West Ham significant funds.

This, in turn, would allow Potter to make more targeted signings and improve squad quality without overspending.

With the transfer market now open, it’s likely the West Ham hierarchy is weighing this strategy—using homegrown talent as a foundation while reinforcing with carefully selected additions—to navigate a challenging summer.