OPINION
Many fans would think that West Ham United are pretty solid in the centre of defence, especially as Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena have been impressing recently.
However, what they lack is proven Premier League experience, something which has let them down a few times already this season – and Manuel Pellegrini needs to scour the transfer market in January in order to find a player who fits the bill.
His search may not take him too long if he considers the possibility of signing Manchester United defender Chris Smalling, who according to the Sun, is wanted by rivals Everton.
Pellegrini needs to hijack this interest and capture Smalling for themselves, as he is most certainly a player who can get pulses racing at the London Stadium.
The 28-year-old reportedly wants an advance on his current £90,000-a-week wages, a figure that the Hammers are more than capable of meeting, seeming as some of their top players are on more than that.
Despite being criticised regularly for his performances, the 6ft 4in [Transfermarkt] colossus has been in good form recently, so Pellegrini would be mad not to snap up a player of his experience.
Adding a player like Smalling would ensure that West Ham are a step closer to becoming a top-ten club, even if it means that either Diop or Balbuena would have to drop out of the team in order to accommodate him – although a back three of the trio would be a fearsome back line too.
Yes, he has made some crucial errors during his time at United, and there are times when fans have even questioned why he was playing for a team like them in the first place.
Joining West Ham would soon put this criticism to bed, as the club faithful would no doubt appreciate having a player with Smalling’s proven experience in the team.
This is why Pellegrini must hijack Everton’s interest in Smalling – as his potential arrival would surely propel the Irons to the next level and have pulses racing in east London.
