Stuart Pearce has shared his thoughts on West Ham’s pursuit of Aston Villa star Jhon Duran, saying the Hammers must take a gamble on the young striker. Pearce, a former West Ham player and assistant manager, understands the club’s reluctance to pay Villa’s £35m asking price but believes they need to take a risk.

“I think whenever you sign a centre-forward, it’s a gamble because you are normally paying top dollar,” Pearce said on talkSPORT. “If you look at the history of the club, certainly Scamacca coming in recently for West Ham, and one or two other centre-forwards have not hit it off.”

Pearce highlights West Ham’s reliance on Michail Antonio, who is approaching the end of his career. “They need competition for Michail Antonio. That’s been the case for a number of years. He has been a brilliant servant for West Ham, but the clock’s ticking on Mic, and the injuries now and then.”

West Ham have a poor record with striker signings, with 52 forwards signed in the last 14 years yielding few successes. The club sees Duran as an investment who can be their number one striker for years to come. However, the deal is proving “tough” due to disagreements over the fee.

Pearce’s comments suggest West Ham must trust their recruitment team and take a chance on Duran’s potential. If the move pays off, Duran could become a valuable asset, but if it doesn’t, the club may have to sell him for less in the future.