Despite the concerns over West Ham United’s squad depth, and those recent links with a Bayern Munich benchwarmer, there are a few areas of Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad which look pretty strong right now.
Yes, forgotten man Guido Rodriguez was handed a rare Premier League start in the centre of the park away to Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday.
But the fact that the veteran Argentine had not featured on a Hammers team sheet since the opening weekend is testament to the impact made by Mateus Fernandes and Soungoutou Magassa, plus the emergence of Freddie Potts.
Thanks to some excellent late-August dealings and Nuno’s faith in a 22-year-old academy graduate, West Ham United’s engine is no longer leaking quite so much oil.
At full-back, meanwhile, Nuno has Aaron Wan-Bissaka rediscovering his Hammer of the Year pomp on the right. On the left, West Ham have the ‘diamond’ that is El Hadji Malick Diouf, with the two-footed Kyle Walker-Peters providing depth.
2024/25 Young Player of the Year Ollie Scarles is nearing a return, too, after a dislocated shoulder.
So with funds likely to be tighter than Kevin Keegan’s old shorts, it would be a surprise if West Ham spent a decent portion of their January budget bringing Bayern Munich right-back Sacha Boey to the London Stadium.
Bayern Munich may sell West Ham United-linked Sacha Boey for just £13 million
German publication TZ reported in November that West Ham had joined capital neighbours Crystal Palace in the race to sign Boey.
Now, a move to Selhurst Park would see him come into competition with Daniel Munoz, arguably the Premier League’s stand-out right-wing-back. But with Munoz batting his eyelashes in Manchester United’s direction, perhaps Boey is seen as a potential successor.
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BILD confirm that Crystal Palace’s interest is indeed genuine. They also add that Bayern Munich would be willing to negotiate a fee in the region of £13 million. A substantial loss on the sum they paid Turkish giants Galatasaray two winters back.
There is, though, no mention of West Ham in BILD’s update.
This may be because West Ham are less-than ‘confident’ about strengthening Nuno’s squad in the New Year. It may also be because the aforementioned Wan-Bissaka is threatening to lock down the right-back spot once again following a difficult start to the season.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka in superb form to cast doubt on Boey links
Aaron Wan-Bissaka was OUTSTANDING back at Old Trafford!
What is the best display you've ever seen from a former player against his old club?
“I actually think Wan-Bissaka is the best one-v-one defender as a full-back in the world. I don’t think anyone would get the better of him.”
– Jamie Carragher, 2020
The former Old Trafford stalwart was nothing short of sensational on his return to his old stomping ground last week.
Gary Neville could not help but notice Wan-Bissaka’s progress in advanced areas, while a frustrated throng of Manchester United supporters were left baffled by the imperious back-post defending of a man who frequently seemed to suffer bouts of narcolepsy when crosses came whizzing in.
“Wan-Bissaka was battered at Man United because he couldn’t play. He was the best defensive full-back in the league,” Sam Allardyce says on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, the former West Ham boss lauding ‘AWB’ during his best run of form this term.
“He’s the best stopper of crosses. He was the best at winning possession back. Why does he need to get forward when you’re playing for Man United when he should just give it to that midfield player or that wide man or that centre forward and that’s his job done?
“But no, no, no, no. He’s got to do this that and the other. Gary Neville couldn’t do it. Gary Neville wasn’t great going forward. Wasn’t great at crossing. But he was really good at defending.”
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