West Ham United‘s hunt for a new winger has taken a dramatic turn, with La Liga giants Atletico Madrid entering the race for Colombian star Jhon Arias, according to Canal RCN.
New manager Julen Lopetegui is wasting no time putting his stamp on the West Ham squad. Following the arrival of Brazilian winger Luis Guilherme, Lopetegui is reportedly targeting another wide attacker to bolster his options and implement his preferred possession-based style of play.
Fluminense’s Jhon Arias has emerged as another target for the Hammers. The 26-year-old has been in scintillating form this season, racking up 6 goals and 5 assists for the Brazilian club. Statistically, he carries the ball impressively and has exceptional passing accuracy, qualities that align perfectly with Lopetegui’s style.
West Ham’s pursuit of Arias has hit a potential snag with the surprise entry of Atletico Madrid. The Spanish powerhouse is determined to land Arias and is reportedly preparing their first official bid.
Arias is currently contracted to Fluminense until 2026, with his market value estimated at £13.5 million. However, with both West Ham and Atletico Madrid interested, this figure could quickly inflate. Adding further competition, Sevilla is also believed to be monitoring the situation.
Landing Arias would be a significant coup for us. He offers valuable versatility, providing depth on both flanks and potentially even slotting into the number 10 role. That being said, he is just one of an increasing number of wide attackers linked to thee club.
Tough choice for the lad then. 😂
It would be good to know over how long a period his goals and assists have come in. 6 goals and 5 assists over about 15 games is decent but if it is over 40 matches then not so.