OPINION
West Ham are reportedly poised to make a bid for Manchester City’s Patrick Roberts but they should abandon that idea and pursue Liverpool’s Harry Wilson instead.
The Daily Express reported that the Hammers were prepared to strike a deal for Man City’s £15million-rated winger and had set a date for when they were going to make a bid.
The newspaper claimed that the London-based club were keen on Roberts despite him suffering a disappointment campaign, by his standards, while on loan at Celtic due to niggling injuries.
However while Roberts is an exciting winger with many brilliant attributes, the Hammers should abandon their pursuit of him in order to throw everything at trying to welcome Wilson to the London Stadium in the summer.
The 21-year-old Reds winger recently had a very successful loan spell at Hull City and looked capable of taking the Premier League by storm if given the right opportunity.
Wilson scored seven goals, while creating four, in the 13 league appearances he made for the Tigers but is now back at Anfield ready to fight for a first-team place.
The prolific winger shared that he was looking for some reassurance from Klopp about his first-team chances as he revealed that he wanted to speak to the German manager about next season.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, he said: “I haven’t had the chance to speak to Jurgen Klopp about next season yet. I finished at Hull last weekend and I came back to Liverpool on Wednesday.
“I’ve been moving back into my place and I’ve got a couple of days off now. Hopefully I’ll get the chance to catch up with the manager soon. I’ve taken a lot of confidence from the loan and also from scoring on my full debut for Wales this season.”
While Wilson is a dazzling talent ready to shine in the Premier League, it will be hard for him to get regular football at Anfield.
Klopp’s side is already packed with several amazing attacking options, such as Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and a host of other hidden youth prospects on the brink of the first-team, so it might be worth him moving to get regular football.
The German manager will no doubt be honest with the 21-year-old about his chances being not guranteed, and the Hammers must be ready to jump at any chance there is to sign him, whether permanently or on loan, as he would get pulsing racing at the London Stadium.
Wilson, based on this season at least, has proven to be more prolific Roberts who only has one goal to show from his latest campaign in Scotland, compared to Wilson’s seven goals in the Championship.
Therefore while a permanent deal for Roberts would be easier to complete the Hammers shouldn’t worry about that, and attempt to sign Wilson, even if on temporary basis, as he’s clearly the better option to take.
