West Ham Linked With Argentine Goalkeeper As Parker Plans January

West Ham United have been linked with a move for River Plate goalkeeper Santiago Beltrán, with Argentine publication TyC Sports reporting that the Hammers are among the clubs monitoring the youngster. Atlético Madrid are also named as interested parties, although there is no suggestion that West Ham have made an offer or opened negotiations.

River Plate are reportedly prepared to discuss a departure if an offer of US$15 million or more arrives, with the club already considering how they might replace their highly-rated goalkeeper. Beltrán has enjoyed an impressive breakthrough season, making 45 appearances and keeping 19 clean sheets, while also earning recognition from the Argentina national team.

The reported interest comes at an interesting time for West Ham, with Scott Parker facing an increasingly obvious problem between the posts. However, I would suggest the goalkeeper situation is only one of two major priorities for Nils Koppen when the January transfer window opens.

West Ham Need A Goalkeeper And A Striker

West Ham sold more than £200 million worth of players during the summer transfer window and spent just under £40 million on recruitment. Therefore, I would already hope that there is money set aside for January, rather than it becoming a straight choice between signing a goalkeeper or a striker.

Quite frankly, we’re going to need both.

The problems in front of goal have been well documented, with Koppen already making enquiries about potential replacements for Taty Castellanos. But the goalkeeping situation is arguably just as concerning, as the numbers surrounding Mads Hermansen make increasingly uncomfortable reading.

Parker cannot realistically expect to mount a successful promotion challenge if he doesn’t have confidence in his goalkeeper and continues to struggle to find a reliable source of goals.

West Ham Cannot Afford To Hesitate Over The Right Player

As for the reported US$15 million valuation of Beltrán, I’m not going to sit here and pretend I’ve watched the goalkeeper play. I haven’t, and I’m certainly not going to offer a technical assessment of somebody I haven’t properly studied.

But if he is the right man for the job, realistically West Ham cannot afford to hesitate over paying that sort of money.

The club has already spent far too long muddling its recruitment strategy, and the appointment of Koppen should mean we finally have somebody identifying players who fit a longer-term plan. The recent focus on recruiting a new centre-forward is encouraging, but that cannot be allowed to become an excuse for ignoring the goalkeeping department.

I would like to think that the money generated by last summer’s sales gives West Ham sufficient financial flexibility to address both positions. This isn’t an either/or situation.

If Beltrán is genuinely the goalkeeper Koppen and Parker believe can improve West Ham, then make the investment. But don’t forget the striker, because we have problems at both ends of the pitch and neither is going to disappear by itself.