Signing a new midfielder is an “absolute must” for West Ham in the January transfer window, according to Football.London journalist Sam Inkersole.
The sale of Pedro Obiang over the summer means that the Hammers only have Declan Rice, Mark Noble, and Carlos Sanchez to sit in front of the back four, with Noble currently injured and Sanchez out of contract in the summer.
And Inkersole has suggested that reinforcements should be a priority.
Writing in a piece for Football.London, he said: “It’s an absolute must that the Hammers purchase a new midfielder in January 2020 or in the summer.
“Backup Carlos Sanchez is out of contract at the end of the season and in defensive midfield, Declan Rice is the undisputed number one.
“But should he suffer an injury then it’s Sanchez or bust.”
OPINION
Inkersole is on the money with this one. The Hammers look severely short staffed in the centre of the park, especially with Mark Noble injured, and they need somebody to come in and help ease the workload on Declan Rice, who has averaged 2.5 tackles and two interceptions per match so far this season, as per Whoscored. You would still have to view Noble as his first choice partner when he comes back from injury, but the skipper isn’t getting any younger, and a long term replacement must be found. Conor Coventry looks promising at youth level, but a more immediate solution would be preferable. If that means splashing the cash in January, so be it, and it would surely be better to get somebody in in winter than waiting until the end of the season. The Hammers have bought well this summer, but they still look one or two players short of being the team they are aspiring to be. A new midfielder would go a long way towards solving that problem.
