West Ham United Move Early in Push to Sign Striker

West Ham United have shifted into an assertive position ahead of the January window, with sources indicating that Union Saint Gilloise striker Promise David has become their primary target. TeamTalk’s report that West Ham are leading the race for the 24 year old aligns with the growing feeling inside the game that the Canadian forward is ready for a major step. His Champions League winner against Galatasaray, described in the piece as a moment that “did more than secure Union Saint-Gilloise’s first Champions League points in a month,” has accelerated the conversation across several Premier League clubs.

Rising Stock of Promise David

David’s profile reads like a forward built for English football. His 6ft4in frame and sharp penalty box instincts make him a natural fit for the physical tempo of the league. TeamTalk highlight how teammates call him “the monster,” and scouts refer to him simply as “value.” That alone hints at why the interest has intensified.

His journey adds intrigue. Released by Toronto FC’s academy as a teenager, he found footing in Estonia with Nomme Kalju before erupting in Belgium. Twenty four goals in his debut USG season ended a 90 year title drought and signalled that his growth curve was steep. With eight more this season, even with fewer starts, he has demonstrated consistency rather than flash in the pan form. One source suggested that “this is a striker who has battled for every step, and that resilience is exactly what Premier League recruitment teams want.”

West Ham’s Striker Strategy

Nuno Espirito Santo has been clear that a focal point is required, and David suits that mould. As TeamTalk note, his “hold-up play and aerial dominance would give Jarrod Bowen and his teammates a genuine focal point for the first time this season.” With Niclas Fullkrug expected to depart in January, reinvestment in a younger, hungrier striker is already being lined up.

The fee is striking. TeamTalk report that Union Saint Gilloise will listen to offers around €20m, roughly £17.5m, which one recruitment figure described as “laughably low for a Champions League level forward with four years left on his contract.” For West Ham, that represents the type of opportunity the club typically explores aggressively.

Rival Interest Intensifies

Wolves and Leeds have not stepped back, and TeamTalk confirm both clubs are plotting rival bids. Wolves are assessing options to complement Hwang Hee chan, while Leeds see David as viable if other forward targets fall through. With Real Madrid youngster Gonzalo Garcia also linked to the Whites, the Championship side are casting a wide net, yet David represents the profile that fits Championship or Premier League demands.

Internationally, David switched allegiance from Nigeria to Canada earlier this year and is now viewed by Jesse Marsch as the long term partner or successor to Jonathan David heading into the 2026 World Cup. Momentum is building, and as one figure close to negotiations put it, “a lot of clubs thought they had time, now they are scrambling.”

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

From a West Ham perspective, this report feels like exactly the kind of forward thinking transfer story fans have been waiting for. Promise David sounds like the pure target man profile that has been missing since the club moved away from the Michail Antonio experiment. Under Nuno Espirito Santo, there is clearly a desire to bring in someone who can handle the physical burden up front, link play and allow Bowen, Kudus and Paqueta to operate with greater freedom.

Supporters will like the sound of a 6ft4in striker with Champions League pedigree and a proven scoring touch. Eight goals already this season, after scoring twenty four last campaign, is the sort of consistency fans crave. The quoted price of around £17.5m will also be welcomed, not just because it is affordable, but because it signals that West Ham are acting decisively rather than being dragged into inflated bidding wars.

Wolves and Leeds trying to get involved creates the usual nerves, but West Ham leading the chase suggests there has already been meaningful contact. With Fullkrug seemingly on his way out and Nuno reshaping the attack, Promise David feels like a realistic and exciting option. Fans will be hoping the club finish this early and avoid the familiar January drift.