A January rescue mission is brewing at West Ham United, as manager Nuno Espirito Santo seeks to reignite a faltering Premier League campaign. The Hammers find themselves battling relegation, desperately needing a spark in front of goal, and have set their sights on a rising star in the Championship.
Coventry City’s Ellis Simms has emerged as the prime target to lead the line at the London Stadium. The 24-year-old striker has been in scintillating form, becoming a pivotal figure in Coventry’s push for automatic promotion. Securing his signature, however, will be a significant challenge.
While West Ham explored a move for Wolves’ Jorgen Strand Larsen, the financial demands proved prohibitive. Wolves previously rebuffed a substantial £55 million bid from Newcastle United, and their valuation remains firm, with Crystal Palace also circling. Simms represents a more realistic, though still difficult, acquisition.
Simms’ journey to this point has been one of unfulfilled potential and hard-earned redemption. A prolific goalscorer at youth level for Everton – a staggering 41 goals in 45 matches for the U18s – he struggled to translate that form into consistent Premier League appearances.
Just 12 senior games for Everton yielded a single, memorable goal: a late equaliser against Chelsea in March 2023. Despite loan spells at Sunderland and Blackpool, where he showcased his finishing ability, a series of managers consistently overlooked him.
Eventually, Everton parted ways with Simms in 2023, accepting a fee rising to £8 million from Coventry City. Now, thriving in the Championship, he’s proving to be a potent threat, scoring 34 goals in 120 appearances with 8 assists.
His statistics speak volumes: 45 appearances and 41 goals for Everton U18s, 40 appearances and 17 goals for Everton U21s, 24 appearances and 10 goals for Blackpool, and 21 appearances and 7 goals for Heart of Midlothian. Simms has consistently found the back of the net wherever he’s played.
West Ham’s current predicament is dire. Sitting 18th in the Premier League, the club is embroiled in a relegation battle that few anticipated. The dismissal of Graham Potter in September hasn’t yielded the desired turnaround under Nuno Santo.
A critical deficiency in the squad is a reliable goalscorer. With Niclas Fullkrug poised to join AC Milan in January, the need for attacking reinforcements is urgent. The club’s survival hinges on finding someone who can consistently deliver goals.
For Simms, a move to West Ham represents a second chance to prove his worth in the Premier League. It’s an opportunity to demonstrate that Everton made a mistake in letting him go, and to potentially spearhead a remarkable escape for a struggling club.
