Various media outlets have reported that West Ham are keen to make a move for Marseille forward Elye Wahi, a player that has been linked with the Club in previous transfer windows.

The Hammers are in desperate need of a striker this month with new manager Graham Potter’s forward options currently limited due to injuries. Michail Antonio broke his leg in a car accident last month and, whilst Ex West Ham Employee has suggested he is ahead of schedule in his recovery, it is still likely to be quite some time before he is able to return to action.

Summer signing Niclas Fullkrug picked up a hamstring injury in Potter’s first game in charge away to Aston Villa in the FA Cup and is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Club captain Jarrod Bowen, who has experience of leading the line for West Ham, is currently recovering from injury after fracturing a bone in his foot. Thankfully, it appears Bowen is ahead of schedule in his recovery like Antonio, and it is believed the 28 year old could make his return from injury a lot sooner than originally anticipated.

These injuries leave Graham Potter with Danny Ings as the only fit and available striker. Despite his experience, Ings has never started regularly for West Ham since joining the Club. It is little surprise therefore that the Hammers have been linked with various forwards since the January transfer window opened.

Wahi of Marseille has been heavily linked with the Hammers in recent days. Many outlets such as ESPN have reported that the 22 year old is one of West Ham’s main forward targets. ESPN’s report even suggests that Graham Potter was a big fan of Wahi during his time at Brighton.

Elye Wahi will be a name familiar with some supporters as the Hammers have been linked with the French forward in previous transfer windows. As a potential signing it is one that many would firmly be against. This is due to concerning and rather disturbing allegations related to incidents in his personal life.

Those fans aware of this information, and with a firm stance against signing the 22 year old, will be pleased to know that Ex West Ham Employee has dismissed the links to Wahi, reporting that the Club are instead pursuing moves for other forwards.

It seems a good thing that the Club will not be pursuing a move for Wahi. Bringing the French forward in could have caused anger amongst supporters given the allegations linked to his name. In what has been a challenging season so far for West Ham, with frustrations high at various points, the last thing the Club needs is a signing that could cause a lot of debate and scrutiny externally and for tensions to reach boiling point amongst Hammers supporters.

Two games in under Graham Potter, there already seems to be a much better mood around West Ham with supporters feeling more optimistic about the rest of the campaign. If West Ham do bring in a striker this month, it is important they are smart and shrewd about who it is as adding more goals to their forward line, given the number of injuries at the minute, would play a massive part in helping the Hammers have a strong end to the season.