A move for Jonjo Shelvey would be wise for West Ham

The transfer rumors are whirling yet again as the international break is here, which tends to be a tradition. This time it’s resurfacing of West Ham purchasing Jonjo Shelvey from Newcastle to supplement their shallow midfield.

With the three-season plan continuing on and the squad revamp taking place come summer, West Ham will need to add some skill and beef to their midfield. Newcastle wantaway Jonjo Shelvey could be the perfect fit for this space.

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This proposed deal has been on and off for about a year, with David Moyes initially wanting the hometown boy to return to his boyhood club. With Moyes gone after last season, the rumors didn’t completely die down after a resurgence in January of 2019.

The link makes sense because Shelvey grew up supporting West Ham, has been dropped by Rafa Benitez at Newcastle, and West Ham are in need of a midfielder who can play both sides of the ball.

The Mail Online has reported a deal is nearing completion between the two clubs, sending Shelvey to West Ham for around £20 million. This seems a bit fishy to me. £20m, really? Doesn’t that seem a bit exorbitant?

Shelvey isn’t a youth player brimming with potential, and he isn’t an ironman who has played all of Newcastle’s games. No, the 27-year-old has struggled with injuries this season and in 16/17. The upside of him is the physicality he plays with, his awesome passing skill, and that he would solidify an English midfield alongside Rice and Noble.

The obvious player he’d be replacing would be Pedro Obiang. Obiang, who has failed to do much of anything this season, has been stapled to the bench and reserved for emergency use only. The defensive midfielder will be moved on from this summer with Italian and French teams apparently interested. The 26-year-old midfielder should fetch between £10-£15m, a fee that should be immediately spent on Shelvey.

Pellegrini has shown that he likes players with versatility, and Shelvey does offer an option across the midfield. Should West Ham invest in his services over a younger, more expensive player, the motivation for the likes of Joe Powell, Connor Coventry, and Dan Kemp will remain intact.

I like the move, but if it doesn’t happen can we finally move on from this rumor? Pretty please?

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