West Ham United were one of the clubs in attendance to watch Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis bag a hat-trick for AZ Alkmaar at the weekend, sources have confirmed to 90min.
The 24-year-old has been in superb form during the 2023/24 campaign and his hat-trick in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Heerenveen moved him level with Feyenoord’s Santiago Gimenez on 13 goals at the top of the Eredivisie scoring charts.
Pavlidis is currently averaging a goal every 59 minutes, with 77% of his shots on target and 43% of his attempts hitting the net. He has already bettered his tally from last season in just nine games.
90min understands that West Ham have been monitoring Pavlidis’ impressive performances this season, with Brentford also monitoring him. Technical director Tim Steidten is looking to strengthen an attacking force that currently relies on Michail Antonio and Danny Ings – both of whom could leave the club next year.
Antonio has scored two Premier League goals this season and Ings is yet to get off the mark, leaving the impressive Jarrod Bowen – who recently signed a new seven-year deal at the London Stadium – to make up for the deficit. The 26-year-old’s goal in Sunday’s 4-1 defeat by Aston Villa was his sixth of the season – a record bettered only by Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah in the Premier League.
Adam Hlozek’s long-term target remains of interest to West Ham / Jürgen Fromme – firo sportphoto/GettyImages
Pavlidis’ ability to play out wide is another factor in West Ham’s interest, but another option on the left is needed in David Moyes’ squad. VfB Stuttgart’s Serhou Guirassy and RB Salzburg’s Karim Konate are also on the list of Conference League winners last season.
Long-term targets Hugo Ekitike and Adam Hlozek are also high on their transfer list and potential January loan deals make them an attractive option as West Ham also look to strengthen in defense and midfield.
Ekitike has been told he can leave Paris Saint-Germain as he is not in their plans and the Frenchman is believed to be keen on a move to the Premier League. Hlozek, meanwhile, was a target for West Ham before moving to Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen, and inquiries have been made over the availability of the powerful 21-year-old.
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