Looking in all the wrong places to try and fix a pretty big problem.
That’s my main takeaway from the latest reports coming out of West Ham United right now.
According to a report in The Athletic, West Ham are keeping tabs on two left-backs from two fellow London clubs, namely Sead Kolasinac at Arsenal and Emerson Palmieri at Chelsea. On the surface of it, I think these would be two excellent signings to make, I think that both are excellent players on their day and would make fine additions to the squad.
The only problem, is that we’ve already got two pretty decent left-backs already at our disposal with Aaron Cresswell and Arthur Masuaku. If you just take a look at their statistical comparison on WhoScored for instance in the Premier League last year, you’ll see that whilst Emerson leads in most categories, it’s either relatively even or Cresswell and Masuaku aren’t too far behind and Kolasinac bringing up the rear.
Do West Ham United need another centre-back?
Yes
No
So would it really be that much of an improvement for us to go after them? In Palmieri’s case, possibly? But with the Athletic report claiming that Declan Rice could be used as part of the deal to make it happen, I wouldn’t be inclined to sacrifice someone as important as Rice to make it happen.
I can understand the club’s desire to fix the defence, after all it was the 5th worst in the division last year, but it’s not the flanks that need to be addressed the most, it’s the centre-backs that need the most attention.
So whilst it might be a good move for us to make, it wouldn’t exactly be the best move at the end of the day.
