OPINION
West Ham United must attempt to prise Huddersfield defender Tommy Smith to the London Stadium with the club now plunged into further turmoil following the injury to Ryan Fredericks.
The Mirror now report that the summer signing will be ruled out for the rest of the season due to a shin injury, and this will no doubt leave boss Manuel Pellegrini sweating about his available options at right-back, especially with the future of Pablo Zabaleta up in the air.
With Zabaleta now the only top-quality right-back Pellegrini can choose from, it goes without saying that he must look to the services of Smith in the January transfer window.
Amid all of West Ham’s woes in this position, Smith could just be the answer to all of their problems.
Smith – who is 6ft 2in [Transfermarkt] – has made only one appearance for the Terriers all season, so there is no doubt a part of his mind wanting to seek first team opportunities elsewhere.
He has also proved in the past that he has the ability to score and provide assists to goals from his position in the defence, as he netted four and created eight assists during the 2016/17 campaign which saw Huddersfield gain promotion.
Seeming as he only earns £20,000-a-week [Spotrac], moving for the ace in the next transfer window seems like a no-brainer.
He has all of the experience needed to slot straight into Pellegrini’s starting XI come January, so the Chilean must not think twice about swooping for Smith.
Huddersfield will not take much convincing to part ways with him if David Wagner has only started him once all season, and his natural ability will undoubtedly be a hit at the London Stadium.
Pellegrini must get pulses racing by pouncing for Smith – as he is a player who can put all of West Ham’s problems to bed in an instant.
