Alaves defender Guillermo Maripan has admitted he feels “awkward” after missing out on a move to West Ham United in the summer, but should the Hammers even be in for him?
According to reports in Spain, as cited by Hammers News, Manuel Pellegrini was eyeing a £15million pursuit of his fellow native, but nothing materialised despite Alaves leaving him out of the team at the end of the season.
Speaking to El Mundo Deportivo, which reports that West Ham director of football Mario Husillos is still monitoring the 25-year-old’s progress, Maripan seems calm about the situation but certainly hasn’t closed the door:
I felt a little awkward because I would prefer that these things about transfers are resolved quickly. Today I am an Alaves player and that’s how I feel; I would like to answer [for how long] for sure, but many things happen in football.
READ WEST HAM’S VERDICT
The 6’4″ centre-back was one of the stand-out performers at the 2019 Copa America, in which he helped Chile reach the semi-finals.
West Ham’s start to the season, defensively speaking, makes it seem like Pellegrini will be desperate to recruit him in the near future, but I actually disagree.
Would Maripan strengthen the Hammers’ options? Yeah, probably. But with Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena now the cemented starting options with Angelo Ogbonna and Winston Reid providing back-up, there’s enough depth there.
Don’t forget new signing Goncalo Cardoso too. Surely signing another centre-half to challenge for a starting spot would affect his development and chances to break into the first-team.
Once Pellegrini settles with his first-choice back four, I’m confident improvements will follow.
