Do we need to strengthen?
Slaven Bilic has been quite open with the West Ham United supporters over the last few weeks, about the fact he does not feel that we need to do any business in the January transfer market.
He did indicate though, that should the right deal become available, and we could shift a couple of players off the wage bill, then it was possible. Most of the talk has been about our new signing, Sam Byram, but another name keeps cropping up in reports, that of Simone Zaza of Italian Giants, Juventus.
From what I’ve seen of Zaza, he looks like a strong centre forward, with an absolute rocket of a left foot. He scores screamers, he scores tap ins, he scores with his head. He also has pace and strength – all the attributes that a modern footballer should have, and not your typical Italian player.
For Zaza to come in, it would mean that we maybe have to shift squad players like Nikica Jelavic and Mauro Zarate. I have a soft spot for Jelavic, as he is a trier, and I think his movement off the ball is underestimated. However, I also appreciate that if we are to move up a level, we need better than him.
As for Zarate, one week I love him, another I think he should be dropped from the squad altogether. We know what Zarate can do, but for me, he doesn’t do it on a consistent basis.
So there we have it, if the opportunity to get Zaza into the club arises, at the expense of Jelavic and Zarate, personally, I think we need to take it!