Former Irons striker Frank McAvennie has questioned whether Said Benrahma is an upgrade on Grady Diangana as West Ham move to the brink of completing the deal to bring the 25-year-old to the London Stadium.
With reports claiming the Algeria international is set for a medical to seal his £25m move to the Hammers, speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie has said: ”I do not get it. I am not sure if Benrahma is that much better than Diangana.”
The 60-year-old who played for West Ham between 1989-1992 also queried the sense in selling Diangana, a talented 22-year-old homegrown prospect, before spending more on Benrahma: ”I would not have sold Diangana for £18million and then gone and spent £30million on a winger because I believe Diangana could have done that job.”
Whilst the former Iron may have a point in some respects, having both played in the Championship last season, the stats certainly stack up in favour of the potential newcomer.
Benrahma appeared 46 times for Brentford in the league during 2019/20 scoring 17 times and assisting nine. Whilst Diangana played 30 times whilst on loan at West Brom, scoring eight and assisting six.
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McAvennie is right to point out the age and price differential between the two and also the fact the Hammers already had a player in a similar ilk to Benrahma in Diangana before they sold him to West Brom.
Nobody was pleased to see Diangana leave the club, particularly having seen him come through the ranks only to leave to a Premier League rival.
However, criticising the deal to bring the Algerian star to the club before he’s even walked through the door seems a little misplaced. There is no doubt going off the stats and his performances last term for BRENTFORD, given the correct platform, Benrahma could produce on the big stage for the club.
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