Who is West Ham transfer target Goncalo Guedes?

Paul Macdonald

• Updated: 20 May 2021 11:26 BST
• 2 min read

West Ham are in need of extra firepower in the summer, there is very little doubt about that. Following Sebastien Haller’s switch to Ajax in January, David Moyes is short on ‘traditional’ strikers.

Michael Antonio’s versatility has been a huge help for the Hammers over the years, and he is no stranger to leading the line. But Moyes will be keen to add a focal point to his squad, with a number of different attacking players being linked with a move to the London Stadium.

Spanish outlet Fichajes have stated that Valencia’s Goncalo Guedes has emerged as a possible option. So what do we know about him?

Part of Portugal’s new generation

Guedes is a 24-year-old Portuguese winger. Having impressed at the legendary Benfica academy, he progressed into the first team, where he scored five goals in 39 league appearances. He was soon snapped up by Paris Saint-Germain, but struggled to assert himself against the competition and, after just a year, he was sent on loan to Valencia in 2017.

He helped inspire Los Che into the Champions League, where West Ham are hoping to find themselves next season, before making the move permanent. Since then, Valencia have struggled and his impact has dwindled in Spain. Since making his international debut in 2015, Guedes has made 22 appearances for Portugal.

Would he suit West Ham?

There is no doubting Guedes’ quality, and he would be a very good addition if the Hammers do creep into Europe next season. But Moyes is not short on players to play in behind a striker; Andriy Yarmolenko is not guaranteed to leave, while Jesse Lingard has impressed since joining from Manchester United in January.

Said Benrahma and Manuel Lanzini are just two other options. It would feel like overkill if Guedes arrived in truth; you’d expect Moyes to be looking more towards a traditional centre forward, with Brentford’s Ivan Toney previously linked.