Slaven Bilic says new signing Emmanuel Emenike will bolster West Ham United’s attacking options
Slaven Bilic says new signing Emmanuel Emenike will bolster West Ham United’s attacking options.
The Nigeria forward became the Hammers second – and expected to be final – capture of the January Transfer Window when he joined on loan from Fenerbahce on Sunday.
Bilic knows Emenike well, having previously managed in the same city as the 28-year-old in both Moscow and Istanbul, and expects the No29 to add versatility and firepower to his squad.
“We got the deal done and we are happy and of course he is happy too, I suppose!” said the manager. “We wanted him because Mauro Zarate left for Fiorentina and there is a possibility that Nikica Jelavic will go.
“We have a couple of strikers injured, who will hopefully be back very soon, but we needed a player who can play in three positions up front and Emenike has been on our radar.
“I have known him for a long time and he’s a great player and I hope that he is going to do a great job for us.”
Emenike spent two seasons in Russia with Spartak Moscow, the second of which saw him come up against Bilic’s cross-city rivals Lokomotiv.
In summer 2013, both made the switch to Turkey, where Bilic took charge of Besiktas and the forward moved to Fenerbahce, where he scored 12 goals won the Super Lig title in his first season.
“He is not that tall, but he is big, he is strong and he is extremely quick and he is really direct, he is a good goalscorer and he will work well for the team and run the channels,” said Bilic, who went on to confirm that the Club will not be actively seeking any new signings on Monday.
“We won’t be busy on Deadline Day. We are finished. That’s it – in and out.”
The Nigeria forward became the Hammers second – and expected to be final – capture of the January Transfer Window when he joined on loan from Fenerbahce on Sunday.
Bilic knows Emenike well, having previously managed in the same city as the 28-year-old in both Moscow and Istanbul, and expects the No29 to add versatility and firepower to his squad.
“We got the deal done and we are happy and of course he is happy too, I suppose!” said the manager. “We wanted him because Mauro Zarate left for Fiorentina and there is a possibility that Nikica Jelavic will go.
“We have a couple of strikers injured, who will hopefully be back very soon, but we needed a player who can play in three positions up front and Emenike has been on our radar.
“I have known him for a long time and he’s a great player and I hope that he is going to do a great job for us.”
Emenike spent two seasons in Russia with Spartak Moscow, the second of which saw him come up against Bilic’s cross-city rivals Lokomotiv.
In summer 2013, both made the switch to Turkey, where Bilic took charge of Besiktas and the forward moved to Fenerbahce, where he scored 12 goals won the Super Lig title in his first season.
“He is not that tall, but he is big, he is strong and he is extremely quick and he is really direct, he is a good goalscorer and he will work well for the team and run the channels,” said Bilic, who went on to confirm that the Club will not be actively seeking any new signings on Monday.
“We won’t be busy on Deadline Day. We are finished. That’s it – in and out.”