Case closed on West Ham buying a fullback in January

Yeah, yeah it’s pretty entertaining when your club is linked with X, Y, Z players in hopes of improving the team for a Cup run or end-of-season push, but for West Ham and the search for a fullback, it’s case closed. Despite the news being not as exciting as a new signing, players returning to health is exactly what West Ham needs right now.

The key player returning to the first team is right-back Ryan Fredericks. The young fullback was brought in on a free transfer in the summer of 2018 but poor play followed by a shin injury saw him miss most of the 2018 half of the season. Confirmed by Claret and Hugh, Fredericks has returned to first team training and is contention to return to the team for the upcoming Arsenal match.

This news should stop the Gary Medel rumors dead in their tracks. Medel, whose transfer to West Ham seemed imminent, was attractive to Pellegrini because he offered cover at central midfield and right-back.

More from Green Street Hammers - West Ham

Michail Antonio has performed admirably as a make-shift right back in order to rest Zabaleta, but Fredericks is the longterm solution to the right-back problem and should relieve Zabaleta of more matches as the season continues on. Medel was likely to cost the Hammers upwards of £10m so the savings can be reinvested elsewhere in the team.

WIth right-back back on track, is there a need for West Ham to pursue a left-back?

The short answer is no.

West Ham have two left-backs in Arthur Masuaku and Aaron Cresswell, each vying for starting minutes and each providing very different playstyles on the pitch. Masuaku is a flash-and-dash offensive-minded fullback who will leave you wanting more defensively, while Cresswell is a solid defender who is prone to some bonehead decision making. Both are less than perfect, but is there a need to replace them now?

Again, the answer has to be no. No first team player would be available for such a uniquely important position, and if they are (or can be prodded free) they aren’t going to be cheap.

The names that come to mind from previous links are fairly quiet now as Southampton will surely hold onto Ryan Bertrand to stay alive in the Premier League and Olympiakos would probably look to charge as much as possible for Leonardo Kourtis in January as West Ham would not be negotiating from an advantageous position.

Next. Arnautovic to China rumours nothing to be concerned about. dark

With viable options at both left and right-back West Ham don’t have to and shouldn’t dip into the January transfer market for a fullback. While not perfect, the Hammers can reassess in the summer and make some better judgment calls when there is less pressure to bring in instant reaction players. The links are fun to explore and hypothesis about but the reality is that the Irons will be fine with their current fullback depth.

Home/Transfer Rumors