Abdallah Sima: West Ham’s perfect Antonio alternative? | OneFootball

West Ham United could revisit their interest in Abdallah Sima before the transfer deadline…

What’s the word?

That’s according to the ever-reliable ExWHUemployee, who made the claim in a fresh transfer update to fans on his Patreon site ‘The West Ham Way’ earlier this week, saying:

“We could explore a deal for him [David Zima] and his fellow teammate Abdallah Sima. Not only do the names sound similar but he is also 20.

“Whilst he is a seen, as a winger as well as a forward, it could mean that he is [a] perfect alternative to [Michail] Antonio.

“In January, I spoke to the club chairman via Twitter and he told me that Sima would not leave in January to West Ham but there is a chance he could in the summer… we are in the summer and his team are no longer in the Champions League. We have dealt with the club before so there is a strong chance we will go in for a move.”

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Perfect alternative

With a little over two weeks still to go in the transfer market, the Irons are still yet to find that new striker to pair up with Michail Antonio, which is currently a recipe for disaster considering the 31-year-old’s injury problems.

He has started 24 or more league games in only one season since he joined the East London outfit from Nottingham Forest in 2015.

The Hammers could well play more than 50 matches across all competitions this season, having qualified for the Europa League group stage. If Antonio picks up an injury against Newcastle United on Sunday, David Moyes would be in a hopeless situation.

However, the 58-year-old’s recent transfer success in dipping into the Czech league should provide further encouragement as to why a move for Sima makes the world of sense.

The Senegalese gem enjoyed a breakthrough campaign last season, providing 20 goals and eight assists in 39 appearances. He averaged a direct contribution once every 98 minutes, via Transfermarkt – near enough one every game.

Despite largely playing as a right winger, Sima’s future could lie in the middle, which is why he could indeed be the ideal foil to Antonio, who also started out wide before Moyes’ intervention.

If he’s out injured, then the 20-year-old could take his place up top. If he’s not, and the Hammers boss wants to play both attackers, then there’s still a likely role for him in the squad.

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It’s also why he has earned lofty comparisons to Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, who also started his playing career as a winger before becoming one of the Premier League’s best-ever centre-forwards.

Sima has also been lauded as a “huge talent” after he impressed during Slavia Prague’s impressive Europa League showing against Leicester City, against whom he bagged a goal in the second leg of their round of 32 tie in February.

Time is running out, so West Ham really must accelerate their plans to secure a new frontman to bolster Moyes’ squad. Sima would be a fantastic and much-needed addition, whatever the cost.

Just as ExWHUemployee explains, he could be the perfect foil for Antonio at the London Stadium.

AND in other news, ExWHUemployee drops frustrating Nikola Milenkovic update…