West Ham supporters in the Transfer Tavern are eagerly anticipating their side’s huge Premier League encounter with Stoke City on Monday night, with the Hammers eyeing a third-game unbeaten which would move them further clear of danger.
David Moyes’ men beat Southampton 3-0 and drew 1-1 with defending champions Chelsea in their previous two league games, results which have moved them up to 14th place in the division and six points clear of the bottom three. Yet Monday’s clash with second-bottom Stoke is another big one in the Hammers’ quest for top-flight survival, with the East London outfit aware that three points would move them ten points clear of Paul Lambert’s Potters with just five matches of the season remaining.
Thus, there are many excited and optimistic West Ham fans in the Tavern at present, several of whom are confident that their team can indeed clinch the victory on Monday night, and thus put even greater distance between themselves and danger.
In the meantime though, there has been much for our resident Hammers supporters to get their teeth into, not least recent reports linking their side with a summer move for Chelsea flop Danny Drinkwater.
And while the England international would undoubtedly be a good addition to Moyes’ squad, they should forget about the midfielder and instead focus their efforts on luring his £13.5 million-rated teammate Gary Cahill (as per Transfermarkt) across London.
Ultimately, the 32-year-old has struggled for regular first team football under Antonio Conte this season, with the England ace starting just 19 of their 33 Premier League this term, including just two of their last six.
Nonetheless, it mustn’t be forgotten that the former Bolton Wanderers centre-back played an integral part in helping Chelsea win the title last season, thus underlining that he still has the ability to play at the highest level, with his struggles this term perhaps more indicative of the wider difficulties the Blues have faced in their title defence.
And in a West Ham backline that has shipped 58 goals in 33 league games this term, he’d surely make a huge difference.
While Moyes’ arrival back in November did somewhat stem the flow of goals hitting the back of the Hammers net, their defensive frailties very much remain to suggest that the personnel need serious improvement over the summer if they are to move to the next level.
Jose Fonte left the club earlier this year to move to the Chinese Super League, and with James Collins to turn 35 in August and also out of contract this summer, the East London outfit could well be short of centre-half options heading into the 2018/19 season.
And that is why they simply have to target Chelsea’s Cahill.
There are likely to be some big changes at Stamford Bridge over the summer such have been their struggles this season, and with the 32-year-old arguably not one of their first-choice centre-backs at present, he could be one who is facing an exit during the close season.
So while Drinkwater’s arrival would no doubt help the Hammers in midfield, their defence needs significant improvement, which is why they should forget about the former Leicester City man and instead land his Chelsea teammate Cahill over the summer.
West Ham fans… what do you think? Let us know!
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