West Ham add 17-goal striker and Brazil star to transfer shortlist with Man Utd duo

West Ham are stepping up recruitment plans ahead of the January transfer window and a new centre-forward is among the club's top priorities for Nuno Espirito Santo.

The Portuguese head coach, who has recently overseen back-to-back home Premier League wins over Newcastle and Burnley, has been left light on the ground in attack since replacing Graham Potter in late September.

However, the London Stadium hierarchy are planning to back their boss in the winter market and discussions over potential transfer targets are now intensifying behind the scenes.

FC Midtjylland striker Franculino Dju is a name of interest after West Ham explored the conditions of a permanent deal late in the summer window.

Danish sources have indicated the Irons actually saw an informal bid rebuffed by Midtjylland for the Guinea-Bissau international but he remains on their radar after plundering 19 goals in all competitions this season.

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Crucially, 21-year-old Dju will not be playing at next month's Africa Cup of Nations, though West Ham are expected to face fierce competition from across the continent for his services if they decide to formalise their interest. A host of clubs including Villarreal and Como are also tracking his development closely.

Midtjylland are expected to command a Danish-record fee for Dju that could surpass the £22million plus £4m package FC Nordsjaelland received for Ghanaian attacker Ernest Nuamah in 2023 from dual-owned RWD Molenbeek and Lyon.

Manchester United frontman Joshua Zirkzee, who has played just 82 Premier League minutes this season, is also an option set to be evaluated, providing the Red Devils make him available for transfer as German target man Niclas Fullkrug is eyeing a return to the Bundesliga.

Wolfsburg and Augsburg are the first two German clubs to register interest with his representatives ROOF, though they would still have to satisfy West Ham's financial demands and formal talks are yet to have taken place.

Winger Luis Guilherme could also be headed for the exit door with Botafogo, Feyenoord and Porto among his admirers.

The east London side also hold a strong interest in the loan signing of Kobbie Mainoo, though again, there are no guarantees he will be allowed to leave United in January and even still, Italian champions Napoli remain hot in pursuit of the England international, who is keen to reignite his World Cup dream.

The Hammers are also open to strengthening Nuno's backline with Lille centre-back Alexsandro also among a list of names that feature on their shortlist.

The French side are poised to demand a premium fee for the 26-year-old Brazil international and it's believed they may also struggle to warm to the idea of selling one of their most-valuable assets mid-season.

Additionally, there are doubts as to whether Alexsandro, who has also attracted suitors in Italy, would be willing to swap Ligue 1 for a Premier League relegation battle just months before next summer's World Cup.

It's understood reports claiming Villarreal winger Manor Solomon (owned by Tottenham) has been floated towards West Ham are credible, however, the Irons only have one loan spot left within their Premier League quota and Solomon is not currently considered a primary target.

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