West Ham United came close to signing experienced Switzerland defender Ricardo Rodríguez before the transfer window closed, only for the proposed move to collapse at the final stage.
Gianluca Di Marzio reports that Rodríguez was close to joining West Ham on Tuesday, but the parties were unable to reach a final agreement. The 34-year-old is now set to return to former club Torino as a free agent.
The revelation provides another insight into West Ham’s frantic final hours, when Nuno Espírito Santo was seeking defensive reinforcements before eventually landing Morato and Adama Boiro.
Ricardo Rodríguez was close to West Ham move
Rodríguez became available following the end of his spell with Real Betis and seemingly came close to becoming another experienced addition to Nuno’s squad.
Di Marzio says the defender was near a transfer to West Ham on 1 September, but the two sides could not find the final agreement required to complete the move.
Torino subsequently moved quickly.
The Serie A club are now closing the deal for Rodríguez to return on a one-year contract with an option for another season, which can become automatic depending on appearances.
Rodríguez would have brought enormous international experience to London Stadium.
The Swiss Football Association lists him with 144 senior caps and nine goals, making him the second-most capped player in Switzerland history behind Granit Xhaka.
He is predominantly a left-sided defender and can operate either at left-back or on the left of a three-man defence.
That versatility helps explain West Ham’s interest.
West Ham eventually turn to Boiro
The timing is particularly revealing given West Ham’s late scramble for another left-back following Malick Diouf‘s departure.
The Hammers ultimately secured Adama Boiro from Athletic Club on a season-long loan, with an option included to make the transfer permanent.
That deal itself went deep into the final hours after West Ham had also considered several other options.
Rodríguez can now be added to that list.
Rather than relying on the 34-year-old, West Ham eventually chose the considerably younger Boiro to compete with Ollie Scarles.
It fits the wider shape of Nuno’s final squad, which can be followed through our permanently updated West Ham squad page.
West Ham also completed Morato’s season-long loan from Nottingham Forest as the club strengthened two defensive positions late in the window.
The full recruitment picture is assessed in our West Ham transfer window verdict.
Rodríguez will therefore not be joining that rebuilt squad.
Instead, the 144-cap international is heading back to Torino after a West Ham move came surprisingly close to being completed.
