Since succeeding David Moyes as West Ham manager, new Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini has made bringing in another attacker priority.
The former Manchester City manager has looked at Paris Saint-Germain’s Javier Pastore, who looks set to join AS Roma, and Lazio winger Felipe Anderson. But Pellegrini also appears to have concerns with the defensive side of West Ham’s squad – and rightly so.
West Ham conceded 68 goals in the recently concluded Premier League campaign – more than any other side bar the relegated Stoke City (also 68). Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski has been brought in from Swansea City on top of French centre-back Issa Diop to help the east London club decrease those numbers next season and compete against Adrian for the No.1 spot with Joe Hart returning back to Manchester City after a disappointing loan spell at the London Stadium.
Fabianski and Dop are both good signings, but Pellegrini should really consider a whole defensive restructure if West Ham are to come anywhere close to where they finished (7th) in the 2015/16 Premier League season under Slaven Bilic. Winston Reid has been at the heart of the Claret and Blues’ defence for some time now and Angelo Ogbonna can be a very effective defender on his day.
However, Pellegrini should consider making Chelsea’s Kurt Zouma Dop’s centre-half partner. Diop’s compatriot is valued at £13.5m by Transfermarkt and could be available this summer considering the options Chelsea already have at their disposal in that position and the current links to Juventus man Daniele Rugani.
Despite an array of poor team performances that saw Stoke City relegated to the Championship, Zouma still managed to put it consistent and respectable displays – and was once Chelsea’s first-choice centre-back ahead of John Terry and Gary Cahill.
The France international’s power, strong tackling and incredible aerial prowess would really help add some defensive solidity to the West Ham defence. And, overall, Zouma is a better defender than the likes of Reid, Ogbonna and Dop.
If Chelsea do indeed find Zouma surplus to requirements, then a transfer to the club’s London rivals is a move that could benefit all parties involved.
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