West Ham appear to have genuine ambition to attract top talent in this coming transfer window. Supporters will believe it when they see it, having been promised much, with bang average results for too many windows to get over-enthused just yet. However the reports that are prevalent this weekend as the summer window opens suggests that the recruitment policy is not solely linked to youngsters on their way up in the world.
Last night’s express.co.uk amongst many, featured another report linking West Ham with FC Brugge’s Raphael Onyedika. Already with Champions League experience, Onyedika is a defensive midfielder with huge talent and at 23 has been impressing some of the best and was the lone defensive midfielder during his club’s 20-game unbeaten run.
Whilst West Ham have apparently made the offer of a four year deal to his agents, beating off competition is likely to be the toughest part of any deal to bring the Nigerian to West Ham.
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Back in January, yahoosport confirmed that he was ‘on the radar’ of PSG whilst ‘Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Porto and AC Milan have made enquiries…[Manchester]City have been looking at defensive midfielders following Rodri’s long-term injury and now they face Onyedika, 23, who has excelled in that position and has heavyweights from the biggest leagues chasing his signature.
Should the Hammers prevail, the arrival of a young buck like Onyedika in the centre of the pitch would surely spell the end for Edson Alvarez or Tomas Soucek. Back in January his stats were something like a 90% passing accuracy in the Champions League, which would be like a breath of fresh air in the barren wastelands that have been the Irons midfield this season.
Which kind of makes West Ham’s intent either impressively ambitious or likely to end in classic Jonathan David-style failure. Seasoned West Ham watchers will have already formed their own opinions.