Grading West Ham’s Transfer Window
West Ham have had a busy summer, bringing in a number of quality players. But do they all make the grade on inspection?
When players are coming in quickly it’s easy to lose track of how good those transfers are, or aren’t. So with the transfer window now closed ahead of this weekend’s game, we take a look at how West Ham’s window really stacks up.
We’re going to measure on three factors: Risk, Value for Money and Squad Improvement. So if a player has little injury risk, was signed for free and improves the squad, he could get A’s across the board. However a 30m fee for the same player may make the score only a B or C if the value for money score drags down the others. Likewise, 40m for a superstar would still be considered value for money (in this day and age anyway!). So, in price order… (All prices from transfermarkt.com)
Fredericks, Free
Risk Factor: B
Fredericks is a young player that has no Premier League experience, so whilst there is no injury calamity in his past, there is a risk he won’t make the step up to the top division. Despite that, he was a firm favourite at Craven Cottage last season, and seems to possess all the natural attributes that would see him succeed in East London.
Seeing the way he has been linking up with other squad members in pre-season indicates to me that he doesn’t represent much risk at all, but there is still that unkown factor until he has some league matches under his belt. High hopes for the right back.
Value for Money: A+
How can he not be A+? A free transfer for a pacey right back that seems to be as good in attack as he is in defence can’t be given anything else at this stage. It was a good piece of work to convince him to join, because staying with Fulham would have been the easiest move to make.
Must Read. Attackers now have strength in depth. light
Squad Improvement: A
By the looks of it, he’s going straight into the first team under Pellegrini, and I imagine he will be our first choice right back. He offers a lot of things that Zabaleta doesn’t, and together they could be a perfect rotation. The only thing that stops it being an A+ is that his quality at this level is unproven, he’s not a Premier League Star yet.
Overall Grade: A
A free transfer filling a position we need to for years to come? Sounds like good business to me. With Fredericks there is a risk around his lack of experience, but I think he could well grow into a very good Premier League rightback.