The £26m striker gem West Ham United could sign in January to supercharge survival hopes
West Ham United could be set for a huge January transfer window as they look to escape from the drop
The January transfer window is now less than two months away, and one of the Premier League clubs which looks set to be most active in the window is struggling West Ham United.
The Hammers remain in the bottom three after a shocking start to the season which has seen just two victories in 10 matches. Nuno Espirito Santo recorded his first win as boss against Newcastle United last time out, but will be acutely aware of the issues which remain within his squad as the Hammers aim to avoid relegation to the Championship for the first time since 2010/11.
The east London outfit’s defensive frailties have been clear to see for much of the season so far, and so it is no surprise that the Hammers have been linked with Serie A centre-back Yann Bisseck in recent days. But securing his signing would not solve the problems in arguably their most concerning area of the pitch - the striker position.
West Ham linked with move for Brazil striker Kaio Jorge
West Ham are amongst multiple Premier League sides who have been linked with a January move for Brazilian striker Kaio Jorge, who has already scored 22 goals in the 2025 season to attract interest in a return to Europe for the former Juventus man.
The Hammers remain without a reliable striking option up front, as both Niclas Fullkrug and Callum Wilson are injury-prone and the latter is reportedly ‘not fancied’ by Nuno, amidst speculation that the former England striker is being given limited game time due to a pay-as-you-play clause in his contract - claims which Nuno comprehensively denies. Wilson has scored once in 297 minutes so far, while Fullkrug has not featured since early October due to injury.
The chance to secure the signing of one of Brazil’s most promising strikers in January could, therefore, be a massive game-changer as the Hammers look to improve their fortunes in front of goal. The 23-year-old Jorge may have endured a challenging spell at Juventus which led to his return to his native Brazil and Cruzeiro, but his goal-scoring record has now hit new heights.
It is therefore no surprise that Jorge has now been linked with both the Hammers and Aston Villa, and he may be viewed as ready to succeed in Europe after making his full Brazil debut in September. He has previously expressed a desire to stay in Brazil despite Premier League interest, but it remains to be seen if this will change should a firm offer be put on the table.
West Ham will hope Jorge is the answer to their striker curse
The struggles of Fullkrug and Wilson are nothing new to West Ham fans, who have seen striker after striker struggle to leave a lasting impression at the London Stadium despite coming with a strong pedigree from elsewhere.
Gianluca Scamacca and Sebastien Haller stand out as big-money signings who could not dislodge the resilient Michail Antonio from the side. While Antonio became West Ham’s all-time top Premier League goalscorer, he has now departed and so a new goal-scoring saviour is needed. The Hammers will hope that Jorge is that man.
Jorge is reportedly valued by his club at just €30 million (£26m), a relative steal in today’s market. The Hammers have reportedly held talks to sign both Jorge and fellow Brazilian Série A star Pedro, in addition to rumours surrounding a return to England for Ivan Toney. The Irons will hope to ensure they get a striker signing over the line in January, as some renewed goal-scoring impetus could truly save their season.