There’s increasing consternation that some of the signings from last season are proving inadequate even for this, the second division of English football. This site’s opinions over Pablo Julio are well known and well documented – the bearded one is a trier but still plays as if he’s a member of the crowd who’s won a lucky programme raffle to play with the big boys each time he appears in a West Ham shirt.
£20 million well spent? Not.
Perhaps even more concerning is Taty Castellanos’ failure to make any impact whatsoever on this West Ham side following relegation. The Argentine attacker has just one goal to his name this season – from memory his yellow cards now out score his goals – and he merely struts around looking angry each time he’s called upon without contributing significantly to the team output. How the recruitment team will be wishing they’d cashed-in on the reported £40 million Everton interest on deadline day.
Time for Taty to move on?
Options may be on the horizon for a January exit – it appears Taty still has his admirers: Sportwitness.co.uk make the claim:
“Club plan audacious move to sign West Ham player..”
“River Plate have identified West Ham United‘s Valentín Castellanos as the ‘top target’ for the winter market as part of their plan to strengthen their attack.
His contract lasts until 2030, with an option for another year, and Transfermarkt value him at €28m. The frontman’s contract and salary he earns with Scott Parker’s side are the ‘main obstacles’ for River Plate.
Therefore, the Argentine club are considering alternatives like signing him on loan with a fee or buying a percentage of his rights. This is only possible if the London club were to give their approval.”
Whether there’s any real mileage in the River Plate interest, it may well be that West Ham at least have a bargaining chip to try and negotiate a sale of Castellanos in January which would more than likely suit player and club. Taty can then find a league in which his talents are more suited and West Ham can source a front man which will better suit Scott Parker’s playing style.