OPINION
West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini will understandably be keen to bring in some defensive help this summer after conceding 54 goals in 36 Premier League games this season.
However, it doesn’t appear that the Chilean will be bringing his former Manchester City charge Nicolas Otamendi to the London Stadium any time soon.
Argentinian outlet Marca reported last week that the Hammers were in the hunt for the Premier League winner. However, Goal reported on Tuesday that the 31-year-old has his heart set on a summer reunion with former club Valencia.
That is a big blow for West Ham, as it leaves their hopes of signing the Argentine likely up in smoke. There’s no reason to think that the Spanish side wouldn’t welcome Otamendi back with open arms considering how successful his time at City has been.
From a Hammers perspective, though, he would have been a tremendous signing, and the club’s supporters will likely be in bits after reading Goal’s report.
They’ll know that their defence needs to improve heading into the next campaign. Issa Diop has potential, but he’s enjoyed a wildly inconsistent season. Fabian Balbuena is a stalwart, but Angelo Ogbonna is 30 and not a reliable proposition.
So Pellegrini is right to be looking centre back reinforcements, and Otamendi would have been a perfect recruit. He would bring immense quality and a winning mentality to the east London outfit.
Unfortunately, though, he seems to want to return to La Liga. That’s fair enough, he had a lot of success over there, but that won’t stop the Hammers faithful from being incredibly frustrated at his decision.
