Patrice Evra joins West Ham in strange free deal

SEVILLE, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 22: Patrice Evra of Juventus in action during the UEFA Champions League match between Sevilla FC and Juventus at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on November 22, 2016 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)
SEVILLE, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 22: Patrice Evra of Juventus in action during the UEFA Champions League match between Sevilla FC and Juventus at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on November 22, 2016 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images) /
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West Ham have signed Patrice Evra on a free deal. The French left back will play for club until the end of the season.

Just when you thought the transfer mediocrity was over, West Ham have signed Patrice Evra on a free deal. At 36 Evra seems to be everything the board promised we wouldn’t sign. However, this deal does have some potential despite the obvious upfront flaws.

To get the bad things out of the way, I’m not a huge fan of signing a player who hasn’t been playing recently onto a relatively high wage. Evra is reportedly earning around 75k a week. If we’re signing players now, it shows we’re worried about cover and we need someone immediately. Can Evra really fill that gap?

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He is also pretty old, and although Zabaleta has been doing well on the right, our defence is now very much ‘experienced’. A potential back 5 of Zabaleta, Collins, Fonte, Reid/Ogbonna and Evra has an average age well North of 30, and that is a concern. Does this really protect us against pacey attacks?

However there are very much positives to this. If Evra has kept himself fit, he will be needed pretty much straight away. Masuaku has got himself banned and Cresswell has shown he is far more capable in a central back three rather than as an out and out left back. He is an experienced player and will add stability. But that does rely on him being able to jump straight in.

As a general player in the club, he could well boost morale and offer guidance. Evra is, by all accounts, a strong personality and someone who can lift the mood. Having players happy, working hard and pushing on the run in will be vital.

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Evra has also worked under Moyes before, so any pushing in training will not come as a surprise. He has played at the top level, and Moyes will know he can trust him. I’m not wholly convinced on Evra as a signing, but there are worse options around. He will be playing to prove he can still do it, and I believe he can show what he’s got.