West Ham United are one of three Premier League teams in the hunt for Benfica right back Andre Almeida, according to the Daily Express.
The newspaper claims that the Hammers are keen to bring the 28-year-old in to compete with right backs Ryan Fredericks and Pablo Zabaleta, while he also has the versatility to deputise at left back.
The Portuguese international bagged 11 assists for the Europa League quarter finalists this season, who have given him an £8million price tag.
Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers are also taking a look at Almeida, with the latter possibly having the edge with the player’s compatriot Nuno Espirito Santo in charge.
OPINION
This seems like a smart move on paper, but you do wonder whether it might have negative long-term repercussions at the London Stadium. Almeida is obviously tremendous getting forward and is a very versatile player as well, but the Hammers look to be set at right back at the moment. Fredericks came on really strong down the stretch this season and is the undisputed number one right back now. Then there’s Zabaleta, who recently signed a one-year extension and looks set to be Fredericks’s main deputy next time out. But the real problem with bringing Almeida in would be young Ben Johnson, whose progress would surely be majorly hampered by the Portugal star coming in. At the moment the path to the first team is fairly clear for the 19-year-old, but Almeida’s potential arrival would mean that three players are ahead of him in the pecking order. Is that really what Manuel Pellegrini wants?
