Carlos Sanchez looks set for a Hammers exit with a second defensive midfielder clearly the manager’s top priority.
As reported here yesterday should the club nail the Celta Vigo double swoop the boss will then be looking at the loan market for any additional signings he may want.
And Sanchez -injured for most of last season and now 33 years old with just a year left on his deal – will be allowed to leave for around £1.5m – £2m.
A new defensive midfield name – Roma’s Maxime Gonalons, who spent last season on loan at Seville – has been thrown into the mix by some media sources this morning.
But the 30 year old has had major struggles with injury in La Liga and is not high on any list within the club as a result.
Having been bitten by the Andy Carroll factor over too many seasons the club is becoming vey circumspect indeed about taking on any player who carries that sort of baggage.
And so they should. It’s madness to pay millions for players approaching the end of their career with suspect injury records. I’m all for taking a chance on a player, but it has to come with collective responsibility, meaning the player needs to accept lower basic pay and performance/appearance related top-ups to mitigate the club’s risk.
I would far rather we took a chance on an unknown Diafra Sakho, than a well known Andy Carroll…
The midfield requires a greater inject than a tidy deep lying Labotka and a loan player. I’d reinforce further and like the look of Joan Jordan who we’ve been connected to. He is a much better passer of the ball, with ability to hit longer more incisive passes, has presence, moves well with the ball and has two good feet. As a dead ball specialist he would be an all round midfielder that would give us an additional edge. With Labotka and Rice I’d fear we just pass the ball sideways and play in front of teams, the perennial reason we don’t create or score enough.
Josh Cullen could replace him…coyi
WHU are reluctant to spend money on a 30 year old with a dodgy injury record – which is why it may not be easy to sell Sanchez – I’m sure other clubs feel the same
I agree with John about Joan Jordan. 13m buy out. Pretty cheap for a 24 year old with great stats. Could add real depth to the midfield without breaking the bank and a decent season could treble his value.
Could someone please give a heads-up on Joan Jordan? Is he any relation to the aggressive Scot from the 70s and 80s? Thanks.