OPINION
West Ham United need to get it right in the transfer market this summer and spending big on Marcelo is not a wise move.
As reported by The Sun, West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini is interested in Lyon defender Marcelo, with the 31-year-old also keen on moving to the Premier League.
The report also claims that to pass the criteria needed to work in the UK, the Hammers must pay a £15million transfer fee to Lyon and pay the player big wages.
The 6ft 2in defender (TransferMarkt) is a good player. He’s a natural defender, leads the back line well and is good with the ball at his feet, all the qualities that Pellegrini is looking for in a defender. The centre-back made 49 appearances for the French club last season, scoring five goals as he helped the club to a 3rd place finish in Ligue 1 (TransferMarkt).
However, at 31 years of age the Brazilian defender has possibly two, or maybe three at the best, good seasons left at the highest level. It would be ridiculous for the club to spend big on a player that will have no resale value and no long-term potential.
These kind of signings are why West Ham are in such a mess in the first place. Last season’s transfers included Chicarito (30), Joe Hart (31), Pablo Zabaleta (33) and Patrice Evra (37), which clearly didn’t work for ex-boss David Moyes last season (TransferMarkt).
In the season before (2016/17), the club spent big on Andre Ayew (28), Robert Snodgrass (30) and Jose Fonte (34), with only Snodgrass still at the club, although he was sent out on loan for the entirety of last season (TransferMarkt).
Big money spent on players in their 30’s is money down the drain, they should invest heavily in talented youngsters instead and they may be able to sell them for a profit in the future.
West Ham United need to stop thinking about short-term success and start planning for the long-term future of their club.
