West Ham make contact to sign striker compared to Robert Lewandowski who failed Tottenham trial in 2011

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West Ham have now made contact to sign a striker who actually failed a trial at Tottenham back in 2011.

Julen Lopetegui is desperate to land a new frontman this summer, with Michail Antonio and Danny Ings now 34 and 32 years of age respectively – the pair also mustered up just eight goals combined last season.

So, who have West Ham now made contact to sign? Let’s take a look…

West Ham make Arkadiusz Milik approach

A story from Tuttosport in Italy now claims that West Ham have made contact to sign Juventus No.14 Arkadiusz Milik.

The Italian news outlet believe Brentford have also made an approach for the Poland international in recent days along with the Hammers – while Everton are said to have asked about the striker a few weeks ago.

Tuttosport add that Juventus want to sell Milik this summer after Thiago Motta decided against including the Pole in his plans for the 2024/25 campaign, and have put a €7m (£5.9m) price tag on his head.

The 30-year-old has fallen on hard times at Juventus, scoring just four goals in 32 Serie A appearances last season as Dusan Vlahovic and Federico Chiesa were preferred up front.

However, Milik remains a quality striker, with Polish legend Zbigniew Boniek previously comparing the Pole to Robert Lewandowski. He told Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli: “He is someone who plays like Lewandowski.”

The man from Tychy could have actually played for West Ham’s London rivals Tottenham had things gone differently back in 2011, when he underwent an unsuccessful trial at Spurs.

Risk for Julen Lopetegui

In our view, Milik is almost in the same boat as Antonio and Ings.

The Polish frontman turns 31 in February, and has struggled for goals in recent seasons, netting just nine in 41 appearances throughout the 2022/23 campaign.

Therefore, Lopetegui runs the risk of simply adding to his striker problem by signing Milik rather than solving it.

A younger option, such as the 20-year-old Aston Villa frontman Jhon Duran, who actually wants to join West Ham, would make a lot more sense.

READ MORE: West Ham will bid for player compared to Jack Grealish after price drops by over £8m

Perhaps a 12-month deal for Milik for less than £5.9m would make sense if the Hammers still haven’t signed a striker close to deadline day, but if the Juventus outcast is Lopetegui’s main signing in that area, West Ham may struggle next season.