OPINION
West Ham United have improved a lot defensively in this transfer window with the additions of Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena in the centre of defence.
They were previously linked to the services of Lyon’s Marcelo according to insider Claret and Hugh, but that has not materialised into anything.
French outlet L’Equipe has reported that the 6″3 [Transfermarkt] colossus has signed a new contract extension at the club, but this must not worry the Hammers in the slightest.
They had a second bid of £18 million rejected by the Ligue One outfit according to the Daily Mail, and have not returned to attempt to pursue him further, which can only be a good thing too.
The Irons have made two quality additions to the central defence with Diop and Balbuena, so they have no need for the services of Marcelo.
Marcelo has been a mainstay in the French side since his arrival from Besiktas in 2017, but this still does not warrant why West Ham were interested initially.
They have had a lucky escape now that he has decided to stay in France, as his potential addition would have been pointless at the London Stadium.
Lyon clearly value their player over £18 million seeming as they rejected a bid of that amount from West Ham, which a tad steep considering he has not really been heard of before.
West Ham do not need a defender who is aging as his long-term future cannot be guaranteed at the club – at 31, he is only likely to stay for at least two more seasons and this is arguably not what boss Manuel Pellegrini wanted at the club.
Bringing in young defenders like Issa Diop means that they can commit their future to the club, but it also indicates that they are only going to develop further with age.
The Hammers can rest easy at night knowing that they have a top-class central defence, without Marcelo.
