Reports in recent days have suggested that West Ham United could make an audacious move for Jean-Philippe Mateta from London rivals Crystal Palace this summer. 

Like every summer, West Ham need to bring in a striker ahead of next season due to the lack of options; Niclas Fullkrug’s future at the club remains unclear due to his injury, Michail Antonio and Danny Ings’ contracts expire at the end of the season and Graham Potter doesn’t seem to fancy the latter from the start anyway.

The Hammers have had a torrid time with buying strikers over the years, so it makes sense for the club to sign what feels like would be our first ever fit, young, hungry and Premier League proven striker to try to do all we can to make it a success.

The Frenchman is 27-years-old which isn’t exactly young, however, compared to the Hammers’ current squad options, Mateta is a spring chicken. The youngest option West Ham had upfront before signing Evan Ferguson on loan was 32-year-old Niclas Fullkrug, with Danny Ings also 32 and Michail Antonio now almost 35 years old. With Ferguson only on loan it’s very unlikely he will be a Hammer come next summer, so Potter will have to dip into the market again.

Mateta has a very solid record during his career at Selhurst Park, especially over the last couple of seasons, in 134 appearances he has managed 42 goals and 8 assists. In his first two and a half campaigns at Palace he managed just 18 goals and 1 assist under Roy Hodgson. However, under Oliver Glasner, Mateta has become a superstar.

The 23/24 season was by far the best of the Frenchman’s career, he managed 19 goals and provided 5 assists, earing himself a call up to the silver medal winning France Olympic squad. The forward got off to a slow start this campaign after missing pre-season due to the Olympics but since the new year he has continued his form of last season, scoring 6 in his last 5 matches, including a brace at London Stadium which have Graham Potter his first defeat in charge of the Hammers.

Mateta’s form has led to him becoming one of the most in-demand strikers in England with Manchester United, Lyon and Atletico Madrid all reportedly interested, but would he be a good option for West Ham?

The answer would be yes, he has a lot of qualities to his game, he’s quick, a great finisher, good in the air and he would suit Graham Potter’s preferred pressing system. He’s a very direct player, often relying on his physicality rather than his technical ability which is the sort of striker that always seems more likely to work at West Ham. However, the biggest question mark would be his price tag.

Some reports have suggested that Jean-Philippe Mateta would cost any interested club upwards of £50m which would completely rule out West Ham or any club in Europe making a move. Evan Ferguson would likely be available for around that fee in the summer, but it remains to be seen how he will fit in in East London. It would take something really special for a team of Graham Potter and new head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay to spend £50m on a striker, and Mateta isn’t that.

The Hammers will likely go for a lesser known name from outside the Premier League in the summer, the scouting team has 4/5 months to find the perfect man to help fire the Hammers back to the European places under Graham Potter.