Report: West Ham United offered the chance to sign £33m forward | OneFootball

West Ham Offered Artem Dovbyk: January Gamble Worth Taking?

According to a recent report from TeamTalk, West Ham, Leeds United, Sunderland and Everton have all been offered Roma striker Artem Dovbyk in January for a fee of around £33m.

For West Ham, the timing is hardly coincidental. Sat 18th in the Premier League table and five points from safety, the club are staring down a campaign that demands goals, structure, and conviction. The Hammers’ forward line is already in flux, with Niclas Fullkrug loaned to AC Milan and West Ham frequently starting “without a recognised striker in their eleven”. That alone tells you this is not simply opportunistic, it is urgent.

Roma’s stance on Dovbyk, however, presents the first point of intrigue. “It is believed Roma are open to a loan deal, which offers potential suitors a low risk high reward option,” the article states. Loan terms dramatically change the risk profile for West Ham. If the club can negotiate a January loan with a purchase option or structured obligation, the deal morphs into a trial period for a player who has already proven he can score heavily in top leagues.

Dovbyk is not a speculative name plucked from the margins. He delivered “17 goals across all competitions in his first season at Roma last term” and before that, struck “an incredible 24 goals in LaLiga for Girona”. Those numbers are not merely impressive, they are transformative for a side lacking a focal point in attack. His drop in stock is tied to circumstance rather than collapse: “His stock has fallen since Gasperini took charge in Rome and a change is being sought.”

West Ham supporters will know all too well how managerial changes can distort a player’s perceived value. A striker who cost “€38m / £33m when signed from Girona 18 months ago” does not suddenly forget how to finish. But does his profile fit the Premier League, and more specifically, Nuno Espirito Santo’s West Ham?

Nuno Espirito Santo Needs Presence Up Top

Nuno’s systems historically thrive on a central reference point, someone who can pin defenders, win duels, and provide territory as well as output. Dovbyk, at 6ft 2in with elite box output, fits that mould more naturally than any internal alternative currently at the club. West Ham’s recruitment in January must prioritise physical presence, direct running, and reliable minutes. Dovbyk’s injury record is far cleaner than many other forwards circulating the market, which increases his appeal in a relegation scrap where availability is its own currency.

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Leeds, Sunderland, Everton Also Approached

It is worth noting that Leeds United, currently rebuilding under their own pressures, have also been contacted, largely due to the “chequered injury record” of Calvert Lewin, while Sunderland have been made aware as they look to bolster for a promotion push. Everton, despite being a sister club under the Friedkin umbrella, show “little appetite” to bring him to Merseyside, with club sources stressing there is “little appetite to bring Dovbyk over.”

That leaves West Ham and Leeds as the most realistic Premier League landing spots, but the Hammers’ league position, financial muscle, and need for a guaranteed starter gives them the strongest sporting case.

West Ham Must Be Bold, Goals Will Define Survival

If West Ham are serious about turning their season, January requires a headline move, a striker who forces tactical clarity. Dovbyk could be that player, but only if West Ham commit to giving him the role he has lacked at Roma, structured service, set patterns into the box, and the status of a weekly starter.

A loan move makes the decision easier, but the bigger test will be West Ham’s willingness to shape the attack around him immediately. The player’s camp have been “busy contacting clubs across Europe to gauge interest,” signalling a desire for clarity and momentum. West Ham should take note. This is a player who wants the spotlight, not to avoid it.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

As a West Ham supporter watching this season unravel, the idea of signing Dovbyk carries a blend of hope and necessary pragmatism. With the club sitting 18th and five points adrift of safety, survival now hinges on moments of calculated boldness. Nuno Espirito Santo, a manager who historically relies on structure and physical reference points in attack, desperately needs a striker who can define the top of the pitch. Dovbyk fits the profile, tall, robust, and a genuine penalty box operator, but the key is role, clarity, and service.

The article emphasises that Roma see this as “low risk high reward” if structured as a loan, and for West Ham that matters. We do not need another £30m gamble on a rotation player, we need a starter who shifts our identity from fragmented build up play to direct, repeatable territory gains. If the club can secure a six month loan with a purchase clause based on survival, it becomes the perfect audition window.

Yes, the Premier League is faster and more transitional than LaLiga, but West Ham already have midfield technicians who can deliver vertical progression if given a target. Paqueta, Bowen, Kudus, and even set piece patterns can become more potent with a striker who thrives on early box occupation. The fact he scored “24 goals for Girona” and “17 for Roma” proves he is not system dependent, he simply needs defined usage. At Roma he was phased out by a new coach, here, he would be the coach’s lifeline.

Leeds and Sunderland have logical reasons to explore the move, but neither need him to rewrite their season. Everton may be a sister club under the same ownership, but their disinterest speaks volumes about their sporting direction rather than his ability. For West Ham, though, this is not about long term planning, it is about immediacy. A striker who can win duels, run channels, score tap ins, and be available every week might be the difference between relegation and revival.

The fan base will forgive many things, but not hesitation. January must bring goals, presence, and a centre forward who makes defences uncomfortable again. Dovbyk can do that, if we empower him from day one.