Relegated Premier League stars West Ham should consider signing
Relegation is never a fun experience. Whenever it comes around the teams affected face a summer of upheaval with regard to their playing squads. Some players are moved on because they are not deemed good enough or the players that possess quality don’t want to play in a lower division. This year it is the turn of Newcastle, Norwich and Aston Villa to go through the tough times of relegation.
So could West Ham benefit from these clubs’ predicaments? In amongst the three teams miserable season’s some players did, in fact, stand out as class acts. I look to see if there are any we could potentially sign from the fallen trio that could improve our squad.
Newcastle United
Georginio Wijnaldum
Wijnaldum has proven to be a bright spark in a season of misery on Tyneside. It’s not really surprising, as the Dutch attacking midfielder possesses quality and was seen to be quite a coup for Newcastle when they signed him (unfortunately a lot of their other signings didn’t do so well).
After captaining his previous club, PSV, to the Dutch title in the previous campaign Wijnaldum showed plenty of promise in his first season at Newcastle. He scored 11 goals, including four against Norwich in Newcastle’s 6-2 home win, and added five assists.
Wignaldum has gained 27 caps for his country and, should West Ham make a move, he would add some strength and depth to our attacking midfield. He possesses a great deal of creativity and, most importantly, has an eye for goal. He would be a welcome addition to our ranks.
Andros Townsend
Somehow made it into the England squad despite my belief that Antonio is ahead of him right now. However, since the former Tottenham winger made the move North his form has improved, particularly in the last few weeks of the season.
Considering his England involvement I will be surprised if he remains in The Championship next season and, despite his Spurs connections, I believe he would be a ready made replacement for Victor Moses, someone I doubt will stick around following his loan. Tricky and dangerous with his left foot, especially when coming in from the right wing, he could prove to be a valuable squad player in West Ham’s team.
Tim Krul
Ok, so this is slightly left field I admit. West Ham are in particularly safe hands when it comes to the goalkeeping department. Randolph has performed admirably as second choice and Adrian, our current number one, is fast becoming a cult hero.
However, Tim Krul is a quality goalkeeper. He has been injured for most of the season but he has been mightily impressive since he rose through the Newcastle ranks to gain the number one jersey. Let’s also not forget his heroics in that penalty shootout against Costa Rica, at the 2014 World Cup, when he was brought on as a substitute particular for the shootout.
Similarly to Townsend, his involvement with the Dutch national team means I find it unlikely he will remain to play in the second tier with Newcastle. With Rob Elliot and Karl Darlow also on the Newcastle books, they may be tempted to cash in on Krul.
He would be a very valuable acquisition, though perhaps a difficult one for fans to accept, considering how fond of Adrian we are. Mind you football is always going to be a cut-throat business.
Jonjo Shelvey
A boyhood West Ham fan and a former youth player at the club, could the time be right for Shelvey to return to the club? The midfielder has been around for a while now and it’s easy to forget he is still just 24 years old.
The same issue that many promising young footballers succumb to has, occasionally, struck Shelvey. He possesses the talent but there are doubts about his application and attitude. His January sale, from Swansea to Newcastle, raised all sorts of questions about him.
However, just like his time in Wales, he has shown odd glimpses of class at his new club. Just look at the way he inspired Newcastle to a 2-1 home win against West Ham on his debut after all. If performances like that could be brought out of him on a consistent basis he would be a welcome addition to the team.
Maybe performing for his boyhood club could be the catalyst he needs.
Norwich City
Robbie Brady
Brady was the shining light in the Norwich City team. Alex Neil often chopped and changed his side but one name you could always bet on being included was the Irish international.
Brady has been a consistent performer over the season and has also shown that there is versatility about him. Of his 36 appearances over the season half off them came at left back. In that regard, he could be considered a decent back up to Aaron Cresswell.
However, his best position is probably out on the left of midfield where he was often key in attack for Norwich and Hull City before. In terms of adding depth to the squad, you could do an awful lot worse than adding the 20-capped Irishman.
Nathan Redmond
From one Norwich winger to another, Redmond shows a lot of promise. Still just 22-years-old, the young winger still has plenty of developing to do. But when he is on song he looks an exciting player.
Redmond scored six goals, and assisted another three, this campaign and made 36 appearances in total. While his form was up and down, with Bilic as his manager he could well find West Ham is the environment for him to develop, and express himself, in a similar vain to Antonio.
The wide man has 25 England Under 21 caps to his name so he holds plenty of ability. If West Ham went in for him we could have a great player on our hands for the next few years.
Steven Naismith
Another left field one here. While Naismith might not be the most technically gifted player in the world he is accustomed to sticking the ball in the back of the net. His hat-trick against Chelsea early in the season was one such example of what he can do.
However, what is by far Naismith’s biggest attribute is his work rate. If you put the Scot in your team you’ll know you’d get a shift from him. Say, for example, you’re leading a game by one goal who would you rather come on to help the team – Naismith or Enner Valencia?
This transfer would, of course, be unlikely as the reason Naismith left Everton was his lack of first team action. If he were to go to West Ham he would probably arrive to a similar scenario. It’s worth a punt, though.
Aston Villa
Jordan Ayew
In a season of miserable dross at Aston Villa, it seems hard to imagine that anyone would want a single player from the club. However, Jordan Ayew does possess a potent strike and I’m not just talking about when his elbow thumped into Cresswell’s face.
At 24 years of age, the forward comes from a family with plenty of footballing pedigree. His brother Andre is currently plying his trade at Swansea and his father, Abedi Pele, is considered one of the greatest African players of all time.
In a season of woe for Villa Ayew did, at times, display some quality attacking performances and scored seven goals over the season. In a team as bad as that Aston Villa side that’s not too bad a return. With a more consistent supply line Ayew could develop into an important attacker for West Ham should we sign him.
Jordan Amavi
Who? The Frenchman has been injured for so long it’s easy to forget how good he was at the start of the season. Of the massive influx of imports Aston Villa signed in the summer, most of whom failed, Amavi was certainly the one who looked to be a real find.
The 22-year-old left back made 12 appearances for Villa, grabbing two assists, and his Whoscored rating stands at an impressive 7.48. His season was halted in November after he sustained a horrific injury whilst playing for the French Under 21’s in which he damaged his cruciate knee ligaments.
Cresswell has firmly cemented himself as our first choice but, as was evident in the December game against Southampton, if he is missing we are short in that area. Carl Jenkinson playing at left back was not comfortable viewing that day. Amavi would be an excellent backup option and is young enough to develop and maybe surpass Cresswell in a few years.