West Ham, grappling with injuries, weigh surprising move for Marcus Edwards as former Tottenham prodigy excels at Sporting Lisbon

Introduction to this article:
West Ham is in the midst of an injury crisis and is urgently seeking attacking reinforcements. Among the potential targets is Sporting Lisbon winger Marcus Edwards, who has emerged as a key consideration for the Hammers.

Marcus Edwards emerges as a target for West Ham

Edwards, a former Tottenham youngster, is being considered alongside Jack Clarke and Ajax’s Steven Bergwijn as potential additions to West Ham’s forward line. The team’s manager, David Moyes, is facing a shortage of quality up top after injuries to Lucas Paqueta and Jarrod Bowen, prompting the urgent search for attacking talent.

Injury concerns and Financial Fair Play implications

Scans have revealed that Paqueta could be sidelined for up to two months, while Bowen will be out for up to three weeks with an ankle injury. In addition to these setbacks, West Ham is also without the attacking threat of Mohammed Kudus, who is competing in the African Cup of Nations with Ghana. This injury crisis has forced the club to reconsider their plans for the transfer window, potentially pushing the limits of Financial Fair Play regulations.

Potential departures and upcoming match

West Ham had initially considered selling Danny Ings and Said Benrahma this month, but injuries are likely to prevent both players from leaving. The club’s winter break will also be cut short by an FA Cup third round replay against Bristol City next week, adding urgency to their need for attacking reinforcements.

The case for pursuing Marcus Edwards

Despite the challenges West Ham is facing, the club sees potential in the 25-year-old winger Marcus Edwards, who has demonstrated impressive performance since moving to Sporting Lisbon. With 41 goals and 36 assists in 187 games in Portugal, Edwards could be a valuable addition to the Hammers’ attacking lineup.