West Ham are not the biggest club in the world, we all know that. However with the move to the Olympic Stadium right around the corner and the new manager in we could be seeing some big changes in the squad.
As is the case every summer, West Ham have been linked with an unfathomable number of players from all corners of the globe, but only a select few are really worth having in the squad for the upcoming Premier League season. Here, we assess just a handful of the name to be linked with West Ham, and whether they should be signed or not, as well as some of our current squad and whether they should be shown the door.
Loic Remy, Striker, Chelsea: Sign
The 28-year-old hasn’t been given a fair shot at Chelsea. Mainly used as a reserve player and an off-the-bench option, the forward would be a wise addition for Slaven Bilic. Capped over 30 times by France, he brings a certain level of experience to the side, as well as experience in European competition with Chelsea and Marseille.
Only scoring seven league goals last season for Chelsea, he still averaged a goal every 95 minutes of action (basically one a game), including some clutch goals against Hull City and Stoke City in their title run-in.
His best attribute is that he has pace, and a lot of it. He plays off the shoulder of the last man and always makes testing runs behind the back four, something our current strikers do not excel at. Remy offers something different, and for a rumoured fee of £10m, would be well worth the investment.
Javier Hernandez, Striker, Manchester United: Sign
The Mexican has never quite been able to nail down a place in the Manchester United first-team since his £4.2m move in the summer of 2010, but has made a habit of scoring late and important goals for the Red Devils.
The established international striker has 40 goals in 74 games for his country, but has never quite been able to replicate such for for his club sides. Sent out on loan to Real Madrid last season, he scored 10 goals in 32 games, at an average of a goal every 122.5 minutes of action, including a late goal against fierce rivals Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-final – living up to his tag as a clutch goalscorer.
Hernandez has been heavily linked with a move to West Ham this summer for a reported £9m, and will reject the MLS to make is a reality. With one year left on his contract, Manchester United may be forced to sell him if they want to make a profit on the 27-year-old. Not since the days of Dean Ashton have West Ham had what would be considered a ‘clinical’ finisher, which is exactly what Hernandez is.
Adrien Rabiot, Midfielder, PSG: Sign
Regarded as one of Europe’s best young talents, Rabiot’s agent and mother has recently held talks with West Ham officials over a possible move to Upton Park. Linked with the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal, Rabiot’s potential arrival at Upton Park would be a real coup for the club.
The established France U21 international wants out of PSG for regular game-time, and has eyed up the Premier League as an ideal destination. The 20-year-old is a do-it-all midfielder – he likes to pass and make piercing through balls, he’s superb on the ball running from deep at opponents, and reads the game exceptionally well for such a young player, excelling at intercepting the play and making crunching tackles.
Having tried and failed to lure in another PSG man, Yohan Cabaye, to Upton Park, perhaps they’ll have better luck with Rabiot. Lacking depth in the centre of the park, Rabiot could be a European great and we should pull out all the stops in order to get him in the building.
Gervinho, Winger, AS Roma: Sign (on loan)
The former Arsenal attacker has already turned down one move this summer as UAE side Al Jazira failed to provide the Ivorian with a private beach as part of the deal. West Ham are now said to be interested in signing the winger on a season-long loan with a view to buy for €14m next summer.
The 28-year-old has enjoyed some success since his £5.6m move to Roma following an inconsistent spell at Arsenal, scoring seven goals and recording five assists in 34 games in all competitions last season.
He’s not the most easy on the eye, but Gervinho is an effective player if used properly. With Stewart Downing now gone, West Ham really do need a fast, direct winger to add to the squad in his absence, and Gervinho could be that player.
I think he would be worth the punt on a loan deal. You never know, you could hit the jackpot.
Fabio Borini, Forward, Liverpool: Don’t Sign
Liverpool’s sixth choice striker continues to surface as a loan target for West Ham as their other targets continue to be whittled away. The Italian international can operate across the forward line, but really doesn’t excel in any of them.
Borini has two League goals for Liverpool in two full seasons with the club, but did manage 10 in 40 games on loan at Sunderland helped revive his career, before he snubbed a loan to West Ham last summer to fight for his (nonexistent) place at Anfield.
He never wanted to be here, so I don’t want him to be here. Borini isn’t the calibre of player to really affect the first-team enough for West Ham, and we should be really pushing for one of the above players instead.
Of the five players mentioned here, which of them would you MOST like to sign this summer? Take our poll below:
