The transfer window slammed shut on Friday night at 11pm. West Ham signed three players in January – Darren Randolph, Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen. But it could be argued that they needed to do a lot more in order to avoid relegation this season.
There is still a chance for the Hammers to bolster their ranks in the free agent market, however.
Now, these are by no means first-choice names, and should all be considered purely as short-term options.
Younousse Sankhare
The 30-year-old midfielder has been without a club since the summer, after his release from Bordeaux. He does seem to have all the characteristics needed to succeed in the Premier League, however. He stands at 6ft tall, and is powerfully built.
West Ham are in desperate need of more physicality in the middle of the park, and the seven-capped Senegal international would provide them with just that.
Sankhare is capable of chipping in with the odd goal and assist too. He racked up 14 goals and six assists in his last two seasons with Bordeaux (Transfermarkt).
Who Scored describe the 30-year-old as a highly concentrated, proficient passer who doesn’t dive into challenges.
Ki Sung-Yueng
The 110-capped South Korea international was released by Newcastle in January. But he could still do a job for the Hammers.
In 187 Premier League games, the 31-year-old has made 216 tackles with a success rate of 77%. He has also made 220 interceptions, 208 clearances and zero errors leading to goals for the opposition (premierleague.com).
Ki is a hard worker who will always put in a shift. Just the kind of player West Ham need at the moment, even if it is for only four months.
Diafra Sakho
Now this is a controversial one. The 13-capped Senegal international was a divisive figure amongst the Hammers fans during his time in east London.
Towards the end of his spell with the club, he was constantly angling for a move away, and that did his reputation with the fans no favours whatsoever.
That isn’t to say that he couldn’t do a job for West Ham right now, however. The 30-year-old scored 24 goals in 71 games for the Hammers. His mobility and willingness to run in behind the opposition’s defence would provide David Moyes with an entirely different option in the final third.
Sure it would be a risk. But as things stand, it would be one worth taking for West Ham.
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