According to The Sunday People, there are indications that Gary O’Neil is willing to offload Wolves forward Sasa Kalajdzic in the upcoming January transfer window amid notable interest from West Ham.
The newspaper, in its print edition on 31st December, reported on page 57 that West Ham, alongside Fulham and Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt, are closely monitoring the 26-year-old’s situation. It was further mentioned that the Austrian international is eager to secure increased playing time in preparation for the 2024 European Championships and that Wolves’ manager O’Neil is open to his departure provided a suitable replacement can be secured.
This development may not necessarily ignite significant enthusiasm among West Ham supporters, given Kalajdzic’s relatively underwhelming performances following his transfer to Wolves from Stuttgart in 2022. The forward endured an injury-plagued first season in the Premier League, missing a substantial portion due to a cruciate ligament injury sustained on his debut.
During the current campaign, Kalajdzic has assumed a peripheral role, featuring sparingly under O’Neil and netting two goals in 11 league appearances, with only one of those coming as a starter. This raises legitimate concerns about his potential to significantly strengthen West Ham’s attacking options, particularly considering his status as a player who seemingly does not meet the required standard at Wolves.
In light of these circumstances, while the quest to secure a prolific goal scorer in the January window is undoubtedly challenging, a more ambitious approach may be necessary for West Ham to genuinely advance and sustain their pursuit of success throughout the season.
