Failed West Ham Transfer Could Prove A Lucky Escape

By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)

West Ham came remarkably close to signing 34-year-old Switzerland international Ricardo Rodríguez on Deadline Day before eventually landing Adama Boiro.

And I’m beginning to think that particular failed transfer might have been a blessing.

Gianluca Di Marzio has revealed that Rodríguez was close to joining West Ham on September 1, but the two parties were unable to find a final agreement. The Sky Sports Italy journalist wrote: “Rodriguez was close to a move to West Ham, however, a final agreement was not reached between the parties”.

The former Real Betis defender, who was available as a free agent, subsequently agreed a return to Torino.

Rodríguez certainly wouldn’t have lacked experience. He’s won 144 caps for Switzerland and has played at the highest level in Germany, Italy and Spain.

But he’s also 34.

And considering West Ham had already signed 34-year-old Joël Veltman this summer, I’m not entirely sure what the hell we were doing trying to add another full-back of the same age.

How Much Experience Do West Ham Actually Need?

This isn’t particularly a criticism of Rodríguez.

He’s had an excellent career and that amount of international experience speaks for itself.

But how much experience do West Ham actually need?

We’ve already got Jarrod Bowen, Kyle Walker-Peters, Max Kilman and Konstantinos Mavropanos, with Tomáš Souček still to come back.

Veltman himself has already demonstrated exactly what an experienced professional can bring. As I wrote after the Southampton game, he looked a class above at times and provided leadership to a young team.

So I’m not convinced another 34-year-old defender was what this particular squad required.

West Ham needed energy.

More specifically, we needed an attacking outlet at left-back.

Boiro Looks Far Better Suited

Ultimately, West Ham ended up signing 24-year-old Adama Boiro from Athletic Club on a season-long loan with an option to buy.

And having subsequently looked properly at Boiro’s attacking numbers, I think we’ve ended up with the player better suited to the job.

As I found when looking at Boiro’s numbers in more detail, they suggest he wants to get forward, carry the ball and operate high up the pitch.

West Ham already have Ollie Scarles and Ezra Mayers, who are competent enough defenders for this level. What was missing following El Hadji Malick Diouf’s £40million departure to Brentford was somebody capable of providing a genuine attacking threat from that position.

I want our left-back overlapping Manor Solomon.

I want somebody getting beyond him, stretching the opposition and providing crosses from the left.

That sort of relationship can completely change the balance of the team which at time can be a bit right side heavy.

West Ham Needed Profile Over Reputation

You could argue Rodríguez being a free agent would have made him the cheaper option.

I’m not even convinced that’s necessarily true.

Boiro has arrived on loan, while an experienced 144-cap international available on a Bosman would presumably have expected a significant salary and possibly a signing-on fee.

Either way, the difference probably isn’t substantial enough to make it the deciding factor.

For me, it’s about profile.

One is 34 and would have been another short-term solution.

The other is ten years younger, looks more suited to the energy of the Championship and gives West Ham an option to make the transfer permanent if everything works out.

Boiro isn’t guaranteed to be a success, of course. I’ve barely seen him play and I’m certainly not going to pretend otherwise.

But I do know what type of left-back I wanted West Ham to sign.

Young, energetic, left-footed and willing to attack.

So perhaps we should be grateful West Ham couldn’t reach an agreement with Rodríguez.

Sometimes the best transfers are the ones you don’t make.