OPINION
West Ham United must attempt to sign Watford midfielder Tom Cleverley in the January transfer window with the East London club in need of serious central reinforcements.
The Hammers are fairly short of options in the midfield when the New Year comes around as Carlos Sanchez, Manuel Lanzini, Jack Wilshere and Andriy Yarmolenko are all currently on the injury list that is mounting up for boss Manuel Pellegrini.
Pedro Obiang has missed a few games recently too, meaning that the manager’s highly effective midfield trio that also includes Declan Rice and Mark Noble has been put on the back burner – which basically means that the Irons need to find a natural midfielder who has an all round good game.
The Hornets’ Cleverley is just the solution to this current issue at the London Stadium.
Reliable club insider Claret and Hugh has reported that the club board recognise that signing a midfielder in January is important, so there is no doubt that a move for the proven ace would get pulses racing at the London Stadium.
The 29-year-old has not made an appearance in the Premier League this season, even though the Independent reported that he was only going to miss the first few weeks after undergoing an Achilles operation.
Those first few weeks have most definitely passed, but Cleverley still has not made an appearance.
That means that the 5ft 9in [Transfermarkt] player would no doubt consider a move away from Vicarage Road in order to get more game time under his belt and more first team opportunties.
Cleverley spent most of his playing career at Manchester United, so there is no doubting that he has the relevant experience to walk straight into Pellegrini’s starting XI – after all, he was a key asset in the United team that once dominated the top-flight.
This would be the perfect chance to revive his potentially flailing career as he certainly has the quality that Pellegrini is looking for – and seeing as he is on £50,000-a-week [Spotrac] at Watford, his wages should not be a problem for West Ham.
