Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has captured Eberechi Eze from QPR in a fee that could rise to £20m.
Eze’s future has been linked to various clubs, including the Hammers of course but Palace have always been favourites to sign the attacker.
It now remains to be seen whether they will allow Wilfried Zaha the move he has been looking and reportedly they have placed a £50 million price tag on the player.
David Moyes was keen on Eze but with the Hammers apparently having only limited funds available after completing the signing of Tomas Soucek, the south Londoners were always likely to get the former Rangers star.
According to Sky Sports he has signed a five year deal at the club with Fulham, Newcastle and ourselves beaten to the punch,
The Hammers boss is now left to hope that Manuel Lanzini can recapture the sort of form which would see him hopefully creating the kind of chances that Eze managed in the Championship and which Hodgson believes he can replicate in the Premier League.
A good player, but not better than Grady Diangana, who has PL experience and worked his way through the academy/ U23s, and had a great season at West Brom last season.
For me, its a better choice to allow Grady to start next season and if we do release a few players (not him) then we can look at improving key areas (LB, maybe another CB and a forward).
Would have loved to have seen eze in the middle, as attacking midfielder in the number 10 role. With Diangana on the left and Bowen on the right we would have been the premier leagues great entertainers. I’d like to think Lanzini can assist and score as many as Eze but if anything like last year then not much chance. Unless moyes decided he can play Anderson on the left and Diangana in the middle, or Diangana left with Anderson in the middle. Clearly we’re not buying because we’re not selling. If it’s true we need to sell first before we buy that is.
Eze signing for Palace is great news.
Maybe now Moyes can focus on getting the Premiership quality squad performing to the required level.
As Greeno states, Diangana is ready to contribute not to mention Masuaku, Bowen, Fornals, Antonio, Yarmalenko can all play left side in attack as well as Nate Holland or Anderson.. (Probably missed someone else too)….
Not worried about Eze but to say we have a complete PL squad is an overstatement. We are weak at FBs and CB and we need another forward, then maybe we will have a PL squad
Great signing for Palace, maybe we should offer Anderson and £20m for Zaha ?
Last year completely derailed when Roberto was in goal and clear to see the lack of confidence infected the entire team. Bowen and Soucek excellent additions and I believe (hope) that for the new season we can get the best out of the quality players we have now back room staff complete with Psycho. Think that with the right environment we could see the best of Haller, Anderson, Lanzini etc and actually have a good season. Would like to see some defensive additions but think Pearce will improve what we have. Some of our loanees back are like great new signings. My worry is that Moyesy has his plans but his prime targets are rapidly disappearing so he is not being given a chance. Know we have to sell to buy but would have liked the owners to at least have lent him £50m on the understanding that some players would need to be sold to pay it back so he could do business early and get his prime targets. I wouldn’t be disappointed to keep the squad we have but I can see late interest coming in for Anderson, Rice, Haller etc. leaving us with loads of money to spend and no prime targets left to spend it on – cue lots of last minute panic buys just to get a squad of some description. If we are not going to buy anyone that we would like then please, please, please do not sell anyone either.