Julen Lopetegui

Banza: A Perfect Fit or a Gamble for West Ham

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West Ham‘s striker search is in full swing, and Simon Banza of S.C. Braga has emerged as a frontrunner. While some big names were initially thrown around, the lack of European football and competition from other clubs make those options less realistic.

Banza’s potential new fee of €25 million (down on the original €40 million price tag) might raise still eyebrows, but there’s a strong case to be made for him being the answer to West Ham’s attacking woes. Here’s why he could be a perfect fit:

Sharpshooter: Banza’s goalscoring record in Portugal is undeniable. His efficiency in front of goal, evidenced by his high shot volume and low number of missed chances, is a significant upgrade over Danny Ings and potentially an improvement on Antonio.
Complementary Skillset: While Banza offers a similar physical presence to Antonio, his surprising mobility and technical skills suggest he’d seamlessly integrate into West Ham’s attack alongside creative talents like Bowen and Ward-Prowse.
European Experience: Banza has experience in both the Champions League and Europa League, suggesting he can handle the pressure of Premier League competition.

However, there are also reasons for caution. The proposed price tag is a significant investment for a player coming from a lesser league. While his statistics are impressive, it remains to be seen if he can replicate that success in the more demanding Premier League.

Ultimately, the decision falls on Julen Lopetegui. Banza offers a tantalising blend of raw talent and potential, but there’s an element of risk involved. If Lopetegui believes Banza can adapt to the Premier League and thrive alongside West Ham’s existing attacking talent, he could be a game-changer. However, if the gamble backfires, it could be a costly misstep for Lopetegui’s early reign at West Ham.

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4 comments

  • Sunshine says:

    He has had a few decent seasons, current one very good. If he was 23-24 years old it’s worth a gamble. He will be 28 in August.

    • Markie says:

      Not 28 bloody hell guy needs to draw his pension i mean how am i still about at 45 i should be in the ground

  • ResultsMatter says:

    Roma and Stuttgart are also looking at this player. In life timing is everything.

  • Dave says:

    Well he can do no worse than the 3 strikers we signed in the last few years. Scamacca ings and Haller mind you all scored before they came to play under moysie and Scamacca and Haller scored again after leaving, that might tell us something

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