“West Ham’s £21M Saka-Like Sensation Drops Jaws with 19-Goal Blitz – You Won’t Believe the Hype!”

A new goalkeeper is definitely on the agenda for West Ham United this summer.

With Lukasz Fabianski set to depart, and Alphonse Areola having endured a season riddled with mistakes—despite earning a Save of the Season nomination—the club may soon be seeking replacements between the posts.

Even if Edson Alvarez and Guido Rodriguez remain at the London Stadium, the need for a dynamic, athletic central midfielder is still glaring.

Rodriguez has publicly denied reports of talks with River Plate, but regardless of his future, West Ham continue to lack a midfielder with both the defensive tenacity and attacking verve to make a significant impact.

Up front, the situation is equally pressing. As things stand, Niclas Füllkrug could be the only recognised striker available to Graham Potter by the time pre-season begins in July.

That concern is amplified by the club’s vulnerability across the backline, where centre-back, left-back, and right-back options all require strengthening.

In short, it’s shaping up to be a hectic transfer window for Potter and his trusted head of recruitment, Kyle Macaulay.

With multiple positions needing reinforcements and financial resources already stretched thin, prioritisation will be essential.

Given the circumstances, few would fault Macaulay if he didn’t target a new left-winger to ease the burden on Jarrod Bowen.

However, should space remain in the transfer budget, revisiting their interest in Armand Laurienté might be a wise move.

West Ham had previously identified Laurienté as a target The Hammers initially registered interest in Laurienté back in 2023 following an impressive Serie A campaign with Sassuolo.

His agent, Roberto Meloni, told Tuttomercatoweb at the time that Bayer Leverkusen had also shown interest in Laurienté as a possible replacement for Moussa Diaby.

Tottenham were also keen, and Napoli’s then-director Cristiano Giuntoli was reportedly an admirer.

“In the Premier League, there was an attempt from West Ham,” Meloni confirmed. “But he wanted to reach a higher level, opting for a second season at Sassuolo instead.”

Unfortunately for Laurienté, that decision didn’t age well. Sassuolo were relegated from Serie A the following year, and the once-promising £21 million move to England began to look like a missed opportunity.

Yet, Laurienté may still have a path to redemption. Despite Sassuolo’s drop to Serie B, the club managed to retain several of its standout players, including Italy international Domenico Berardi.

Their collective quality led to an immediate return to the top flight, with Laurienté playing a pivotal role.

He netted 19 goals and assisted six more during the promotion-winning campaign—a remarkable output, even if it came in Italy’s second tier.

A possible fit for West Ham’s unbalanced attack Laurienté’s attacking qualities could offer West Ham the sort of balance their frontline currently lacks.

If Crysencio Summerville fails to establish himself and Luis Guilherme is allowed to move on, Laurienté could become a key addition.

Though dominating Serie B won’t turn heads on its own, Laurienté’s previous record in Serie A—24 goal contributions across 65 appearances—demonstrates his ability to perform at a significantly higher level.

It’s worth noting that West Ham’s initial interest was sparked by his top-flight form, not his more recent exploits in the second division.

Laurienté has often drawn comparisons to elite players In 2023, Breaking the Lines highlighted Laurienté’s explosive pace, dribbling ability, and eye for goal, drawing parallels between the Frenchman and top-tier talents such as Rafael Leão, Bukayo Saka, and Gabriel Martinelli.

“These comparisons are rooted in his combination of physical traits and tactical intelligence,” the report noted. “His dangerous ball-carrying and relentless running make him a constant threat.”

At 26, Laurienté is entering the prime years of his career. While he may not come with the same level of hype as some of his contemporaries, his profile aligns well with what West Ham need: a versatile, direct, and goal-capable winger who can alleviate some of the creative responsibility currently resting on Bowen’s shoulders.

Given the challenges ahead and the many gaps to fill, returning for Laurienté might not be West Ham’s top priority. But if they find the room to make a move, it could prove to be a shrewd piece of business.