After years of attacking failures - often from players who seemed like great fits on a surface level - it’s a change of pace to see West Ham move for a striker who comes without the weight of expectation. Evan Ferguson completed a loan move from Brighton on transfer deadline day and it feels like a real emphasis of how far the Irishman has fallen. There was a time when the striker looked like becoming a £100million player, with Champions League clubs sniffing around, but his move to London comes chiefly because he can barely get a look in at his parent club.

"Evan has had a frustrating 12 months with injuries and for him to get back to the level he’s capable of and to continue his development, he really needs to be playing regularly," Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler said after the loan - with no permanent option - went through. It allows Ferguson to reunite with Graham Potter, the manager who gave him his senior debut with Brighton, but success in East London feels like it would be an added bonus rather than a sure thing.

While Brighton wouldn’t be open to a deal if all had gone to plan, the same is true of West Ham. Michail Antonio’s horror car crash means there’s no set date on the Jamaican’s return, while Niclas Fullkrug - the Hammers’ marquee summer attacking signing - has been limited to less than 400 Premier League minutes during an injury-hit season. The Hammers can be forgiven for thinking they’ve been cursed in the attacking department. Their best options in recent years have been converted wingers, be that Antonio, Marko Arnautovic or current captain Jarrod Bowen, with more orthodox strikers coming and going in quick succession.

It’s not even as if their careers have ground to a halt just by moving to E20, with Sebastien Haller rediscovered his scoring touch after leaving for Ajax and Gianluca Scamacca helping Atalanta win last season’s Europa League. When you look at things that way, you might start to wonder whether it’s West Ham who are the problem. There have also been the ones who got away. Jhon Duran has joined Al-Nassr for £77.5m after coming close to joining West Ham in August, while erstwhile Hammers target Santi Gimenez is now an AC Milan player after moving from Feyenoord for around £30m. It remains to be seen how those two do at their new clubs, but one would imagine it would be better than Potter’s current options. Only four teams have scored fewer Premier League goals this season than West Ham’s 28, and no member of their squad has more than five in the top flight.

All of which is to say it’s easy to see why the shot-to-nothing of a Ferguson loan appeals. However, some may worry a successful few months could lead to a repeat of their Demba Ba nightmare back in 2011. Back then, the Senegal striker was West Ham’s top scorer as they failed to avoid relegation, but their hopes of keeping him beyond the end of the season were dashed and he went on to thrive in a Newcastle side that finished fifth.

Even if West Ham get things right, pessimistic fans will be afraid the next slip-up is just around the corner. Join our new WhatsApp communityand receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.