West Ham impressed by AZ Alkmaar striker as they look to bolster forward options

West Ham United were one of the clubs present to watch Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis grab a hat-trick for AZ Alkmaar at the weekend, sources have confirmed to 90min.

The 24-year-old has been in outstanding form during 2023/24 and his treble in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Heerenveen took 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 played, with 77% of his shots on target and 43% of his efforts finding the back of the net. He’s already bettered his goal tally from last season in just nine games.

90min understands that West Ham have been monitoring Pavlidis’ impressive performances this season, with Brentford also keeping tabs on him. Technical director Tim Steidten is looking to bolster a strike force that is currently relying on Michail Antonio and Danny Ings – both of whom could depart 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 contract at London Stadium – to make up for the shortfall. The 26-year-old’s goal in Sunday’s 4-1 defeat at Aston Villa was his sixth of the season – a record only bettered in the Premier League by Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah.

Pavlidis’ ability to play out wide is another factor in West Ham’s interest, with another left-sided option needed in David Moyes’s squad. VfB Stuttgart’s Serhou Guirassy and RB Salzburg’s Karim Konate are also on the shortlist of last season’s Conference League winners.

Long-term targets Hugo Ekitike and Adam Hlozek also remain high on their transfer radar, and potential loan deals in January make them an appealing options as West Ham are also seeking to strengthen in defence and midfield.

Ekitike has been told he can leave Paris Saint-Germain as he’s not in their plans, and the Frenchman is understood to be keen on a move to the Premier League. Hlozek, meanwhile, was a target of West Ham’s prior to his move to Bundesliga table-toppers Bayer Leverkusen, and an enquiry has been made about the availability of the powerful 21-year-old.