AliousWest Ham Target ‘Next Henrik Larsson’ as Striker Hunt Intensifies Following Double Transfer Blow
West Ham United have turned their attention to Danish forward Mathias Kvistgaarden—hailed by some as the “next Henrik Larsson”—as their summer striker search hits early turbulence.
With the transfer window set to open on June 1, the Hammers’ rebuild under new manager Graham Potter is already facing setbacks. Key attacking departures have left the squad thin up front, and two major striker targets have slipped through their grasp.
Danny Ings, signed for £15 million and earning a reported £125,000 a week, will be leaving after failing to justify his hefty price tag. Meanwhile, Evan Ferguson’s loan stint from Brighton proved ineffective, with the 20-year-old failing to register a single shot on target during his four-month spell. Discussions are also underway regarding the future of Michail Antonio, with suggestions the veteran striker could be released, leaving injury-prone Niclas Fullkrug as West Ham’s only remaining senior forward.
With options running dry, Potter and his recruitment chief Kyle Macaulay have urgently refocused their striker shortlist. Their original top targets—Emanuel Emegha and Evann Guessand—are no longer viable. Chelsea have reportedly secured a deal to sign Emegha from sister club Strasbourg, with plans to keep him on loan in France. Brighton have swooped in to hijack the move for Guessand, eyeing him as a replacement for Joao Pedro, who may be sold.
In response, West Ham have set sights on 23-year-old Kvistgaarden, who has been in excellent form for Brøndby, scoring 23 goals this season. According to *Mail Sport*, the Dane is now high on the Hammers’ list of potential forward reinforcements. Kvistgaarden has drawn comparisons to Sweden legend Henrik Larsson, with former Premier League and Real Madrid midfielder Thomas Gravesen previously tipping him for stardom.
“He’s that strong and talented—he could reach Larsson’s level,” Gravesen said in a past interview with *Tipsbladet*, urging Brøndby fans to cherish him while they still can.
Brøndby chairman Jan Bech Andersen admitted in a recent interview that while the club rejected multiple offers for Kvistgaarden during the January window, they’re open to selling him this summer. “We’ve had many enquiries,” Andersen confirmed. “The plan was for him to help us finish the season strong—and then we’ll see what happens in the summer.”
As West Ham scramble to reshape their frontline, Kvistgaarden could emerge as the centerpiece of a new era under Graham Potter—if they can move swiftly enough to seal the deal.
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