West Ham need to test January market

West Ham have seen the good and bad side of signing players in the January transfer window.

Kalvin Phillips' loan move from Manchester City last year was a relative disaster. Danny Ings came the year before and has not exactly been a roaring success. And Luizao came at roughly the same time and has never made a first-team appearance.

Yet before that, the Hammers signed Jesse Lingard, Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek, initially on loan, in the winter window.

All three were big successes - and the latter pair remain key components of Graham Potter's squad.

After a turbulent season so far, Potter could do with a bit of a boost.

The striking department is particularly thin, with Michail Antonio and Niclas Fullkrug both on the injured list. Central defence is also a concern.

Whether it is a long-lasting-impact player like Soucek or Bowen, or a sugar-rush short stay like Lingard, West Ham need something to give them a lift and ensure they do not get sucked into relegation trouble.