Italian Journolist Nicolo Schira has made a bizarre claim that West Ham have reached an agreement for another centre back less than wight hours after the official confirmation that Portuguese defender Gonçalo Cardoso has agreed a five-year contract.
The normally reliable journo tweeted “West Ham have total agreement with Aaron Long (contract until 2023). Hammers pay €4M to New York Red Bulls and are working to secure a work permit for American player”
The man who first broke the Sebastien Haller news certainly has some good agent contacts and called the Felipe Anderson, Samil Nasri and Lucas Perez signings before anyone else.
However, his claim that West Ham will sign yet another centre back poses the question hy we would give up a non-homegrown position to sign another centre back unless one is outbound in the next 36 hours.
This would make a mockery of the entire pre season, but would anyone agree that playing 5 at the back with wing backs would make sense? .. Would make Arthur’s defending less of a liability, allow Fredericks to use his pace going forward, heap less pressure on Declan Rice, improve our defending at set pieces, make us much more difficult to play through .. The new youngster is left footed .. 5-1-3-1 Formation .. Fabianski, Fredericks, Diopp, Balbuena, ANOther, Masuaku, Rice, Anderson, Wilshere/Lanzini, Antonio, Haller ..
Where in your line up would fornals fit in? First name on the team sheet as far as I’m concerned
Good point… Knew there was someone I forgot! .. Good job I’m not Manager… Let’s say any 3 of Anderson, Frnals, Lanzini, Wilshete and Antonio ..
D’oh!! .. Good Point Iron Man! .. Good Job I’m not Manager if I’m forgetting what players we’ve got! .. How about that 5-1-3-1 with any 3 from Anderson/Antonio/Fornals/Lanzini/ Wilshere? ..
I can see this being a case of trigger the release clause now, loan him back then he plays another game for the USA and gets his work permit sorted and next season we will sell Ogbonna and release Reid so we have a4 CB’s of Diop, Balbuena, Long and Cardoso.
If Winston Reid and Ogbonna have no long term future it makes sense to replace them both, our reserve team has shown in the cups that it is not up to the task, if MP is building for the long term, Long is supposedly available for £4m why not shift Reid or Ogbonna or both.
What I love about Pellegrini is how he appears to care about the long term future of the clubs he manages. I hope his contract will be extended however even if it’s not, he’s building for West Ham ham to benefit beyond his reign and that is impressive. There are a lot of managers who think of their own reputation above the security of their current team, Pellegrini isn’t that type and I respect that.
If you look at who were the best players at City, Fernandinho, Silva, Aguerro etc most were signed by MP he leaves clubs in good shape. I hope we have a good season and extend his contract by two years, he with his staff are transforming our club COYI!!!
Spot On! .. West Ham are still suffering from the short-termism of previous Managers .. Big Sam bought mainly older, experienced, physical players to the club apart from in his final year .. Slav bought players to bolster the squad for Europa League campaigns that did not happen! .. After flirting with relegation, the two Dave’s were then saying we would only buy proven Premier League (mainly older) players .. Spurs got where they are today by buying young, hungry players about 12 years ago and they haven’t looked back since .. I am well pleased that we have much lowered the average age of the squad .. Fewer players going “Over the Hill” that need replacing every year saves money in the long term .. Most of the signings seem to be on less inflated wages too ..