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West Ham track Lyon wideman

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rachid-ghezzal-06-03-2016-600x390West Ham are claimed to be among a number of teams weighing up a move for Lyon winger Rachid Ghezzal. The 24-year-old French-born Algerian wideman only has a year remaining on his contract at the French giants with his future very much in doubt.

Several Premier League teams including  Liverpool, Stoke City, Arsenal, Middlesbrough and Sunderland in addition to West Ham are monitoring his contract situation.

Sources in France say Ghezzal is looking for a new challenge and his wages wouldn’t be a problem, with the winger one of the lowest paid members of the Lyon squad.

Ghezzal is used predominantly as a wide man for Lyon, and although he prefers playing on the left-hand side, he has been used on the right for the French club this season as they sealed second place in Ligue 1 to claim a Champions League place.

He made his debut in a Europa League win over Ironi Kiryat Shmona, and since then he has established himself as a regular first-team player after recovering from a back injury in the summer of 2013 which ruled him out for six months. This season he made 29 league appearances for Lyon, scoring eight times and making eight assists, while also featuring in their Champions League campaign.

While he has played for the French Under-21 side, Ghezzal is eligible to play for Algeria, and scored his first goal for his country against Ethiopia in March.

Lyon coach Bruno Genesio recently praised Ghezzal saying: “We’ve moved him in to a different position, because the coaching staff felt he’d be able to express himself better in this role, but I think the improvement is mainly down to Rachid himself. He has reached this level by working hard at his game and by training well every day.”

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas added “He’s a boy who for years did not have a chance. He’s shown six months of high quality. He’s found the urge.He has one year on his contract. Either he re-signs or we sell. We’ll see. He was made a valid proposal. It was an interesting proposition for him. We will do everything to keep him.”

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I am Season Ticket Holder in West stand lower at the London Stadium and before that, I used to stand in the Sir Trevor Brooking Lower Row R seat 159 in the Boleyn Ground and in the Eighties I stood on the terraces of the old South Bank. I am a presenter on the West Ham Podcast called MooreThanJustaPodcast.co.uk. A Blogger on WestHamTillIdie.com a member of the West Ham Supporters Advisory Board (SAB), Founder of a Youtube channel called Mr West Ham Football at http://www.youtube.com/MrWestHamFootball,

I am also the associate editor here at Claret and Hugh.

Life Long singer of bubbles! Come on you Irons!

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0 comments

  • EastStandTeddy says:

    He is a mystery to me.Dont even recognise his name.

  • salesb says:

    My transfer list

    Tore- 15 Mil
    Gotze- 15 Mil
    Striker (ideally batshuayi) – 25 Mil
    Van den wiel- 4 Mil

    Sell valencia – 9 Mil

    Net total- 50 mil

  • West Ham Fan No 32 says:

    Never heard of him either, certainly scored some good goals, guess we will find out if he is any good if we sign him…

  • mattefumi27 says:

    haha… thanks salesb for your trasfer list, but unfortunately you have to get through the strict bureaucracy of Wetlands, you absolutely need for each player:

    – 10 youtube videos showing skills of the player
    – stats of his career, since he was 4 till today
    – size of his shirt, shorts and shoes.
    – residence permit
    – clinical trials

    All these documents in a sealed envelope and stamp of approval by the UK Government.

    Thanks… lol 😀

  • GW says:

    And the commitee are far to busy at the moment with excessive transgender talk to contemplate signing anyone so I’d suggest posting to DG or DS directly and signing it as Mystic Bradders as he is the true spokesman of all things transfer related.

    • mattefumi27 says:

      hahaha… you’re right GW, I forgot about it, thanks… 😀

      • EastStandTeddy says:

        The committee are too busy for such trivial matters.It is all about donations to political parties this afternoon.Led as usual by the political analyst on there.Bagpuss the Red or whatever the cat is on the fellas avi.Too much gets turned into political debate on there,its bloody boring.

        • GW says:

          You can’t say that it’s the destination of choice of all football forums somewhere where you don’t need to think anymore as they will think for you and remove all thoughts from your head. All hail Wetlands the site where your opinion doesn’t count and where you must agree with the powers that be.

          • Gobby says:

            Or get banned lol.Thats my major issue with that place.People get banned by the people with the power button then the regulars say ‘but no one gets banned unless they are hostile or aggressive’.Errr yes they do,i am living testament to the fact lol

  • GW says:

    I bet there still thanking the Slug for this season too then getting all high and mighty when someone disagrees? Shame they can’t bar themselves and let the ones who want to talk about football just get on with it.

    • fobyac says:

      Hahaha talk about football?
      What like this site you mean………all you talk about is THAT site lol

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