Alleged West Ham target Marcus Edwards was once compared to Lionel Messi by former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino.
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According to a report from TEAMtalk, Hammers boss David Moyes wants to bring the 22-year-old winger to the London Stadium.
Edwards left Spurs on a free transfer in the summer of 2019 and linked up with Portuguese outfit Vitoria Guimaraes.
He was once very highly rated in north London.
Ex-Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino told Sky Sports back in 2016 how the talented young winger reminded him of Barcelona legend Lionel Messi:
“The qualities – it’s only looks, his body and the way that he plays – remember a little bit from the beginning of Messi. He’s small, he’s left-footed. He (Edwards) is a very good prospect and potentially he can be a top player, but we need to be patient and tell him that he has a lot of talent, enough talent to be a top player, a great player. But now it’s how he builds his future, that’s very important. And it’s our responsibility to tell him.”
That was quite the claim at the time. And although Edwards hasn’t reached the levels of the great Lionel Messi, he still seems to be a top talent.
The 22-year-old has really excelled during his time with Vitoria Guimaraes. He has racked up 10 goals and 11 assists in 46 games for the Portuguese outfit (Transfermarkt).
Edwards has a £13.6 million release clause in his current contract (Football.London).
It is true that signing another winger should be very low on David Moyes’s list of priorities in January and next summer.
Signing Edwards for just £13.6 million could be a real steal for West Ham, however. And Pochettino’s comments on the young winger four years ago prove just how good he could go on to become.
Perhaps this one is worth a punt for the Hammers.
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