Gauging an opinion on Keiber Lamadrid, the Venezuelan starlet who is expected to become West Ham United’s third signing of the January transfer window, is not an easy task.
Barring a few grainy YouTube clips, there is not a lot of evidence to grab hold of. Footage is at a premium when it comes to the London-bound winger.
And believe your humble correspondent when he says, having scoured the internet for little morsels of information about Keiber Lamadrid, finding quotes and stats to explain why West Ham United are bringing him in is easier said than done.
How do you FEEL about West Ham signing Keiber Lamadrid?
Is this the sort of low-cost risk the Hammers need to be chasing?
So when we at Hammers News asked our readers to give their immediate impressions – West Ham have reportedly agreed terms to sign the Deportivo la Guaira starlet on an initial loan deal – an in-depth discussion regarding Lamadrid’s strengths, weaknesses or potential was always a tough ask.
Who actually is the one-cap Venezuela international? Why do West Ham want him?
For now, at least, those questions are not easily answered. The response coming out of East London, though, is partly one of ‘why not?’.
Why not take the punt on a young forward? Especially on who could reportedly set the Hammers back just £870,000 should he earn a permanent transfer?
West Ham United fans react to Keiber Lamadrid transfer
As Jamie Carragher and others have pointed out with varying degrees of exasperation, West Ham have fallen behind the Brentfords, the Brightons, the Bournemouths. Particularly on the transfer front.
Those three Bs have made a happy habit of signing little-known prospects for low-cost fees, selling them on for profit later down the line or feeding them gradually into the first-team picture. Given how much West Ham have wasted on ageing, overpaid additions, this feels like a welcome, almost Brighton-esque change.
Keiber is likely to play for West Ham’s Under-21s, initially. He will not, it seems, be thrown in at the deep end before he’s ready to cast off the armbands.
With a transfer fee reportedly below the £1 million mark, there are only upsides really. Either Lamadrid fails to make the grade and he is moved on quietly. Or, he puts his fierce left-foot and dynamic dribbling to good use, and ends up becoming one of the most inspired signings in West Ham’s modern history.
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“A great signing for the future,” one Hammers News reader wrote in response to Keiber Lamadrid’s likely arrival. “But we have a leaky defence, that nobody is closing.
“Surely the coach and hierarchy can see the need [to buy a defender]? Every fan can.”
West Ham fans want Charlie Cresswell from Toulouse as a priority
A lot of the responses follow a similar pattern.
There are those who accept that Keiber is a ‘market opportunity’ worthy of a punt, especially at such a price. But there are others keen to argue that making attacking additions when the defence is such an area of concern would be like purchasing a new 4K TV in the sale while the roof is leaking.
How Keiber Lamadrid could fit into West Ham’s U21 side!
Which youngsters are YOU most excited about?
“At that price and age, what’s not to like?” another writes amid those Keiber claims. “Much better than some transfers we have made of late.
“Give the boy a chance. He might even prove to be better than we think.”
“I still think we are getting overloaded with midfielders and strikers. Come on Nuno, start looking at our defence before it’s too late!”
“There’s nothing wrong with having plenty of cover in midfield, but priority should be on centre-backs.”
“The longer this [transfer window] goes on, the more chance of being outbid on any targets. We need to sign Charlie Cresswell now!”
Speaking of the Toulouse giant, Charlie Cresswell is clearly the number one target of many West Ham fans. 92 per cent of our readers voted for the Preston-born former Leeds starlet when asked to choose their first-choice signing from a list which included Fulham winger Adama Traore, Brazil goalkeeper Bento Matheus, and Metz midfielder Alpha Toure.
Venezuelan reporter Richard Mendez explains what the Hammers are getting
West Ham and Fulham are edging closer as they look to strike an agreement over Traore. A £10 million offer was made for Bento earlier in January, while the Hammers are prepared to spend a further £6 million on Toure.
Due to the nominal fees involved in the deal for Keiber, West Ham still have plenty of funds left to ramp up their pursuit of Cresswell and co.
Charlie Cresswell will be West Ham’s best defender…😍
How can Nuno convince him to join?
“Throughout the season, Keiber has been showing great flashes of his ability,” Venezuelan analyst Richard Mendez told the 4-3-3 Television YouTube channel this week.
“Something I was analysing regarding Keiber is that the kid has a great ability to get into the box. He has a real eye for goal. When you start looking at his numbers – eight goals for the season [in all competitions] – it’s not incredibly high, but he’s not a ‘number nine’, so it’s actually not bad.
“He is someone who persistently tests the opponent’s goal. [And he has] six assists. This speaks very well of the player. I mean, he has more than enough quality to make you think this move could happen.
“And you know what? I hope it does. Even if it’s just a six-month loan. Take the risk, man! Go to Europe. Prove yourself. Get the chance to work your tail off and earn your spot.
“I really hope it happens for Keiber.”
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