The West Ham United fans in the Transfer Tavern are hoping their club will complete the signing of at least one exciting attacking player this summer, and recent reports suggest a fine talent could be available for just £20 million.
The Hammers have been strongly linked with a move for Felipe Anderson in recent weeks, but Lazio’s extortionate asking price appears to be a stumbling block for the club at this moment in time. With that in mind, Manuel Pellegrini should turn his attention towards a player who has slowly begun to establish himself in the Premier League this year, namely Kenedy of Chelsea.
The Brazilian winger moved to Newcastle United in January on a 6-month loan deal which did little to inspire the Magpies faithful at the time, but the extent of his impact in the months which followed turned him into something of a fan-favourite.
With direct dribbling and a natural intent to move forward with the ball at the heart of his playing style, Kenedy regularly got supporters out of their seats at St James’ Park as he injected excitement and creativity back into Newcastle’s performances.
It’s no secret that Newcastle want to bring the 22-year-old back to the North East this summer, but they will have to break their transfer record to secure a permanent deal which would set them back £20 million according to a report from The Chronicle.
Considering Newcastle’s transfer record is 12 years old and Mike Ashley is notoriously strapped for cash, West Ham should take full advantage of the situation and hijack their bid for Kenedy this summer.
The Hammers were overly reliant on Marko Arnautovic to provide attacking inspiration last season and the arrival of Kenedy would take the pressure off his shoulders, whilst also providing the Austrian with a teammate who would enable him to step up another gear next season.
If Kenedy is able to replicate his form from Newcastle at West Ham then Arnautovic will find himself with more space to exploit in the final-third and with a teammate whom he can rely on to provide plenty of chances in the penalty area, so Pellegrini must prioritise Kenedy’s signature if he wishes to get the very best out of Arnautovic next season.
West Ham fans – thoughts? Let us know below!
