Following the release for sale of Luis Guilherme, suddenly West Ham are looking ‘a bit thin up top’. With just Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville as wingers, having disposed of first Mohammed Kudus and most recently their 20 year old wonderkid Guilherme to Sporting CP, the Hammers look distinctly short of options.
Castellanos and Pedro are strikers or number tens, not wingers – which explains why Nuno has now -apparently – ‘reignited’ talks to bring his favoured winger to the club.
According to team talk.com, Nuno Espírito Santo just will not give up on his chosen ageing winger and has restarted talks with Fulham over a transfer deal for Adama Traore .
Deep frowns all around the West Ham fan base – but then again, we were similarly sceptical over a Callum Wilson transfer. And that didn’t work out so bad.
Traore is still..unfortunately..”wanted” by Nuno Espirito Santo.
According to the report:
“West Ham United are hopeful Fulham will become more open to a transfer for Adama Traore as negotiations restart behind the scenes, sources have revealed…Fulham were reluctant to allow Traore to leave during a busy and important period, with Samuel Chukwueze and Alex Iwobi both away at the Africa Cup of Nations.”
Could equally be a case of ‘the last Turkey in the shop’ or a classic Hammers signing: The only positive is that, even if Fulham get their wish, Traore won’t cost a bundle – £5-£7 million seems to be the range discussed.
For someone whose’ “legs have gone’ – allegedly – according to a couple of training ground sources, the worry is that Traore could be another Freddie Ljungberg – type Hammers signing: -Like Ljunberg at the end of his career when West Ham signed him, without his pace, he’ll offer very little.
As long as Traore is free and not on the apparently huge 120k pw wage he is on at Fulham then I think it’s a food signing.
He can stretch defences and coming on at 65 mins they’ll be very wary of pushing up too much.
I don’t think anyone doubted Wilson’s pedigree an ageing striker with an injury history but one that will score goals, Traore has a pedigree of being a bench warmer that delivers little in the way of goals or assists.
If we get him on a loan deal with no loan fee and will cover his wages that would be ok but paying for him or a permanent transfer for a manager skating on thin ice…
There is a big difference between the raw material of Wilson and Traore. Wilson has had a successful career before coming to West Ham, Traore, not so much. In fact not even close.
The only good thing to come from this would be that Nuno could not complain he did not get who he wanted.
If he was available on a ‘free’ then I think maybe we could try Traore. I assume his pay packet wouldn’t be as huge as his biceps.
Will we never learn? Well no whilst the current board are in situ
He’s 29 is getting on a bit but not too old.
His age was never the issue, his lack of ability is.