OPINION
West Ham United have made fantastic progress on the pitch this campaign with a slew of excellent signings and the recruitment of a top class manager.
However, more can still be done to propel the Hammers forward, and beating Premier League rivals Everton to the signing of Watford midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure would be just the thing to rocket the team up the top flight table.
The Mirror reported earlier this week that Marco Silva was looking to bring his former Hornets charge to Goodison Park, and Manuel Pellegrini should be encouraging the West Ham board to do everything they can to scupper the Portuguese’s plans.
Doucoure, a 6ft Frenchman [Source: Transfermarkt], has impressed tremendously since joining Watford and would be the perfect addition for a Hammers team looking to take the next step.
Central midfield is an area of the pitch where the team have struggled this campaign. Early on Pellegrini couldn’t figure out his best unit, and once he did he saw it undone by injuries and suspensions.
Even with all of the Chilean’s central options available, however, Doucoure would still be a vital signing. He is head and shoulders above every one of West Ham’s current group, perhaps excusing teenage phenomenon Declan Rice.
Mark Noble is rather long in the tooth and doesn’t have the same mobility he used to, while Jack Wilshere has struggled since joining the club and Carlos Sanchez simply isn’t good enough for a team of the Hammers’ size. Pedro Obiang, on the other hand, is as inconsistent as they come.
Doucoure is the sort of box-to-box midfielder that the team are missing. He is immensely powerful and he has the ability to drive forward from midfield and contribute in attack, rather like a young Yaya Toure.
West Ham don’t have anyone like that at the moment. Everton are on a similar sort of level to the Hammers as a club at this moment in time, just maybe a little bit further along the road. Snaring Doucoure from their clutches would be a big statement of intent from Pellegrini’s side.
The club needs to consider their recent trend of signing high level players and Doucoure would certainly fit that bill. West Ham must beat Everton to his signature.
