More World Cup talent on West Ham’s wish list, apparently, as the relegated Irons set about their task with gusto. With Nils Koppen now in post as Director of Recruitment, it hasn’t taken long for the reports of targeted players to blossom.
Koppen, as a previous colleague of interim CEO Karim Virani will feel he has a point to prove in showing that his appointment was justified on merit rather than merely through association: Hence the ambitious names on West Ham’s watchlist. Koppen will certainly have his work cut out if sportwitness.co.uk’s article today is correct:
“West Ham make move for Rubén Vargas – Ambitious attempt to sign World Cup player”
Sevilla’s Ruben Vargas
“Nuno Espírito Santo’s side have identified Sevilla’s Rubén Vargas as an attacking target..
Last season, the Switzerland international managed three goals and six assists from 25 matches. He has two goals and an assist from four World Cup matches, and this has only increased interest.
Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Trabzonspor have also shown interest, but West Ham United are the first to initiate contact to find about his situation.”
As to the price expectation – more important than ever now that the irons are a Championship club:
“[Sevilla] are willing to consider selling him if there are offers around €15-20m.”
As with many of the ‘names’ now being linked, the problem will be less the money than the player – convincing a Serie A international forward currently at the World Cup to drop down to the second tier of English football may be a tough ask, even for one of Koppen’s determination.
As with James McAtee, this is an ambitious transfer target for the Irons to aim for – but a huge challenge to overcome the relegation stigma that West Ham now carry with them this season.
Firstly, Serie A is in Italy not Spain …. and secondly there is two hopes of the likes of Varge coming to us and one of those is Bob
McAtee might be possible if he is not wanted by Glasner, he is young and could see it as a good option, others might not want to spend a season getting promoted.
I think we should be targeting loan to buy for young hungry players like MacAtee or Harvey Elliot the Gustavo Sa etc we need to build a team with pace, physicality aggression and skill that can be developed.
Youth can thrive in the championship and at the same point rapidly move on those who don’t want to stay or Nuno doesn’t want, JWP, AWB, Todibo etc, if Summerville wants to go let’s do a deal quickly am sure there is a lot of talent in South America, Oceania and Africa that would be willing to take a gamble on a big club with ambition and a clear strategy.