Three alternatives to Alexandre Lacazette that West Ham should sign this summer

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2. Wilfried Bony (Manchester City)

West Ham supporters may be desperate for a marquee forward signing, though there is a strong case to be argued for Manchester City’s Ivory Coast international Wilfried Bony fitting the bill. The Ivorian notched 35 goals in 70 games at former club Swansea City, and is therefore a ready-made proven goalscorer in the Premier League which is the exact mould that Bilic’s side needs. He is also an effective striker at European level, having plundered goals in Swansea’s Europa League campaign in 2013/14.

At Manchester City he has found himself occupying a more peripheral role having been unable to dislodge Sergio Aguero in the first-choice centre-forward position at the Etihad, and with favouritism towards promising youngster Kalechi Iheanacho, Bony’s prospects at the club look increasingly slim and a move to the Hammers would almost certainly guarantee regular football to re-ignite the forward’s form.

He is only 27 and therefore still in his prime as a forward, meaning any transfer fee would be a wise investment. It is highly unlikely that the Hammers would be priced out of any move, and his physicality and clinical finishing would provide the extra bite in the forward-line which somewhat lacked in West Ham last season, particularly in the central area.

A spearhead like Bony supported by a midfield three containing any of Payet, Lanzini, Antonio, Feghouli, Ayew or Tore would be a terrifying prospect for any team to come up against, and the presence of Bony in the middle may provide the killer instinct in the middle to score more goals for West Ham and relieve the onus from the wide men who picked up the pieces last campaign.  Goals is the critical element he’d bring to the team, and with Europe on the horizon also, Bilic’s side needs a lot of them. A potentially astute signing if the club decide to make an approach.