Latest

Cisse admits West Ham interest

|

OPINION

One thing that the beginning of this season has proved is that West Ham United have better options in defence than once thought.

Manuel Pellegrini started the Premier League campaign with Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena as a partnership in the heart of his defence but quickly changed his mind after a couple of games.

Angelo Ogbonna began the season as nothing more than a back-up option for the Hammers, but he has quickly been given more of an important role at the London Stadium.

The Italian was introduced into the side in August when he was given the nod by Pellegrini to replace Balbuena in favour of having a left and right-footed partnership.

With Winston Reid recovering from his long-term injury, and Goncalo Cardoso loitering in the academy after signing in the summer, it seems strange that the Hammers could have been looking for more options.

Olympiakos enforcer, Pape Abu Cisse, has recently admitted that he attracted interest from a number of Premier League clubs including West Ham and Wolves in the summer.

“Arsenal had not made an offer,” he told Le Quotidien.

“The coach was interested and there were discussions. There were other English West Ham clubs, Wolverhampton. In France, there was Rennes, Monaco.”

Cisse clearly has the ability given the fact that so many clubs were interested in his services during the summer transfer window, but that still doesn’t answer why the Hammers were actually entering discussions with the enforcer.

The 24-year-old is not needed in East London at this moment in time, and Pellegrini should evaluate his current options before making any moves in the market.

Given Ogbonna’s rise to the top this season, it definitely seems likely that West Ham will snub any future move for Cisse, as they simply do not need his services at the London Stadium.

Share this article