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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

West Ham United have completed the signing of striker Albian Ajeti from FC Basel for an undisclosed fee, which could rise to £11m with add-ons according to Claret & Hugh.

The agreement is a shrewd one.

Manuel Pellegrini’s striking options were depleted significantly by the departures of Marko Arnautovic, Lucas Perez, Andy Carroll and Jordan Hugill in this transfer window.

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Summer signing Sebastian Haller became the club’s record acquisition when he joined from Eintracht Frankfurt but he had just Javier Hernandez as his back-up.

Now, though, there is another option, and Ajeti’s numbers are excellent.

At a base level, he is a goalscorer. He has scored 14 league goals in the past two seasons. He has also laid on eight assists across the two campaigns.

But the statistics show more than just a poacher.

Ajeti, per fbref, averaged an impressive 0.76 goals and assists per game last season. The campaign prior, he averaged 0.81.

Now, of course, this is a player who is currently playing in the Swiss Super League. Nobody can say with any degree of certainty whether he will be able to make the transition to the Premier League.

But the numbers are good and so too is the fee.

A cost of £11m is negligible in today’s transfer market – Haller, of course, cost an initial £45m that could rise to £50m, per FFC sources.

And Ajeti offers a different threat and a different option to both the Frenchman and Hernandez.

This is, in essence, a punt.

But it is also a calculated one and it could well be an exceptional acquisition for the money being spent.

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