OPINION
West Ham United have a serious lack of depth in central midfield, and beyond the sensational Declan Rice, a lack of top class quality as well.
With that in mind, the club should consider a January swoop for out of favour Everton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin. The Daily Mail reported on Saturday that the Frenchman has been made available for a cut-price fee.
To get someone of Schneiderlin’s quality into the club for a bargain basement price would be a terrific bit of business for the Hammers. He plays in a position of need and is available right at this very moment. Someone pick up the phone!
The Evening Standard reported on Monday that the club are considering bidding for Newcastle United star Jonjo Shelvey if they allow Pedro Obiang to return to Serie A.
There’s nothing wrong with making a move for Shelvey, he’s a quality operator, but he’d be sure to cost a hell of a lot more than Schneiderlin. Plus, in terms of a like for like replacement, the Frenchman is much closer to what Obiang brings than the Magpies man.
Newcastle also won’t want to sell the Englishman, whereas the Toffees have seemingly decided to bin the former Southampton star. It seems clear that Schneiderlin is the man for the Hammers.
He has undoubtedly gone downhill in the last few years. He was a victim of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson mess at Manchester United and has struggled to assert himself since moving to Goodison Park.
However, if West Ham could get him back to the form he demonstrated on the South Coast then they’d be buying some player. Manuel Pellegrini has produced a turnaround in the performances of Aaron Cresswell, Robert Snodgrass and Michail Antonio this season, so there’s no reason why he couldn’t do the same for Schneiderlin.
If the fee Everton want for the 29-year-old is as ‘cut-price’ as the Mail suggest, then why not take a chance on him? He is a high class midfielder who would add a touch of class to this West Ham team.
It seems like a no brainer of a move, and Pellegrini would be wise to get it completed before another club swoops in for the Frenchman.
