OPINION
How many times this season have fans and pundits said that West Ham United are seriously lacking in quality and depth in the centre of midfield?
Declan Rice has been a standout player for Manuel Pellegrini’s side this campaign, but beyond him there has been precious little consistency in one of the most important areas of the pitch – injuries plaguing east London.
Luckily for the Hammers, they can fix that problem with a swoop for Monaco midfielder Youri Tielemans. Sky Sports reported on Monday that Premier League outfit Leicester City are in talks with the Ligue 1 side for a £20million deal for the player.
Tielemans is thought to be open to a move to England, opening the door even more for West Ham to come in for the Belgium international.
The 21-year-old is exactly the sort of player that the club need to play alongside Rice, in a partnership that could last for a decade. Both are fantastic young players, and Tielemans might actually be a more polished prospect than the Hammers star.
He is certainly better going forward. He scored 35 goals and grabbed 31 assists during his time at Anderlecht, while he’s scored five times for Monaco this season.
So his creative presence alongside Rice would be perfect for Pellegrini’s team. However, he is also terrific defensively, so it’s not like Rice would be left with all the legwork from a defensive point of view.
The fact that Tielemans has 19 caps for his country, in what is a golden period of Belgian football, speaks to how good a player he is and how highly rated he is.
To get him alongside Rice would be phenomenal. It would instantly take this Hammers team to the next level. £20million isn’t much for a team like West Ham, and if the club gets into a bidding war with Leicester you’d fancy the London outfit to come out on top.
This is a signing that would instantly put a smile on West Ham fans’ faces, and Pellegrini should be urging the board to get the job done, here.
