OPINION
West Ham United may be back on track following a resounding win over Burnley on Saturday, but that does not mean Manuel Pellegrini does not have any problems to fix.
That problem is the midfield – or the lack of it, shall we say.
Jack Wilshere is yet to return to action, Pedro Obiang has been absent for a while, and Carlos Sanchez faces a long period on the sidelines with injury.
That leaves the Hammers painfully thin in the middle of the park, with Mark Noble and Declan Rice the only two who have not succumbed to injury.
Football Insider have reported that the Irons are looking to sign Tottenham midfielder Victor Wanyama on loan in the January transfer window in order to overcome this problem in the middle of the park.
However, they must look to a permanent deal, as signing the player temporarily from the top six side is not going to fix this issue in the long-term – at the moment, they need someone who can stand the test of time.
The 27-year-old is not going to feature in Mauricio Pochettino’s plans in the future, so why only offload him on loan when they can be rid of him permanently in what would be a massive upgrade on summer signing Sanchez?
Seeming as Pellegrini is said to be a huge fan of the six foot [Transfermarkt] player, it would be a complete waste if he only managed to secure a loan deal for him – he would provide an extra edge to the midfield that would perfectly compliment the likes of Rice, and allow the Hammers to cut Sanchez’s east London career short next summer.
Even though Wanyama is not a favourite of Mauricio Pochettino, the talent that he has is undeniable – and having a long-term future at West Ham is just what he needs to heed it.
Pellegrini must be smart and negotiate a permanent transfer instead, as it would put all of his midfield worries to bed in an instant.
