OPINION
West Ham United have been struggling in attack this season with Manuel Pellegrini becoming heavily reliant on star striker Marko Arnautovic.
The same can be said for his predecessor David Moyes, with the Scot being the manager who managed to unleash Austria international’s true potential at the London Stadium.
Some slight changes in recent weeks have suggested things are changing for Pellegrini, with players like Javier Hernandez and Lucas Perez making contributions up front.
However, Pellegrini will no doubt want to bring in players of his own choosing in January and in the summer, and an opportunity has now arisen which cannot be passed up.
As reported by The Times, Arsenal have decided not to offer striker Danny Welbeck the incentive of a new deal when his current contract ends in the summer.
The 28-year-old England international, who is currently injured and expected to miss the majority of the season, is now set to leave the Emirates on a free transfer at the end of the campaign.
This news will no doubt spark a multi-club battle for Welbeck’s services, and West Ham must be among those ready to offer him the next step in his career.
Welbeck is not the most prolific of strikers, with 42 goals in 206 Premier League appearances, but his work-rate, experience and versatility make him a good option for virtually every Premier League club.
His pace and willingness to run also make him a weapon when used in the right way, with Pellegrini liking players with a bit of speed going forward.
The opportunity to snap such a player up on a free transfer does not crop up very often, and West Ham must not pass up such a chance.
Welbeck may not be Pellegrini’s first choice, but he is too useful an option to overlook, and the Chilean must lay the groundwork to snap him up in the summer.
