Next Saturday, as the 2017 / 2018 season comes to a close, I’ll not be alone in sitting down in front of the television watching, as a prequel to the Champions League Final, the Championship Play-Off Final between Fulham and Aston Villa.
It’s a game that is often described as having the richest award available, a place in the cash-laden Premier League.
Now, normally, I’d be cheering on the London side but on this occasion, my backing is going to the side who wear the same claret and blue colours as us, Aston Villa.
My reason being that I’m surmising that if Fulham fail to regain their Premier League status, it could provide West Ham United with the perfect opportunity to boost their squad, by raiding the Craven Cottage based club.
In the Fulham squad are three players I feel would be of enormous benefit when it comes to adding that certain something to the Hammers squad.
The three I have in mind are – Marcus Bettinelli, Ryan Fredericks and Tom Cairney.
With the Hammers opting not to make Joe Hart’s loan deal a permanent one, the Hammers have a vacancy for a keeper. Bettinelli has been a mainstay of the Fulham promotion charge this season, since ousting David Button. At 25-years-of-age, Bettinelli has his best years to come and could prove to be a sound investment.
Ryan Fredericks, also 25-years-of-age, is a competent right-back who is very good at pushing forward down the flanks to trouble opposing defenders. Fredericks has also been a mainstay of the Fulham side this season and was named in the 2018 EFL Championship team of the season.
Tom Cairney, a Scottish international, is a cultured midfielder and someone who has that unique ability to spot that defence-splitting pass. Although a knee injury troubled the player in the first-half of the 2017 / 2018 season, his displays since have caught the eyes of many a Premier League scout.
Three players, all within the Hammers price range and three players that, I believe, would add something extra to our squad.
Your views on the above would be most appreciated in the comments facility beneath this article.
