Is this defender West Ham’s quietest, yet most likely next transfer?
By Adam Smith
The Hammers have already locked down a transfer that addresses a position of need with the signing of Roberto from Espanyol. But, don’t expect the La Liga transfers to stop there as Guillermo Maripan is likely the next new Hammer to sign this summer.
His name has only really been whispered this offseason, probably due to bigger names being screamed back and forth on West Ham twitter about the summer transfer window. ANDRE GOMES OR BUST! MAXI GOMEZ AND MITROVIC ASAP!
The Hammers need a new center-back with Angelo Ogbonna and Winston Reid the only club options after starters Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena. Ogbonna looked awesome last season after a shaky start following Balbuena’s injury, but he is getting on in age and probably would like to return to Italy. Reid missed the entire season and his injury history shows his health can’t be assumed or trusted.
Related Story. West Ham welcome new keeper Roberto as first summer signing. light
Guillermo Maripan is the perfect fit for West Ham and, should he sign this summer, will help stabilize and push forward the defensive structure of the team. He checks a lot of positive boxes, too. He’s young at 25-years-of-age, he is Chilean just like his manager, he comes tested in European competition, and he likely won’t break the bank in a transfer fee.
The rumored initial offer from West Ham is £10m and I can live with that and even a few quid more. Should he sign for under £15m then it’s a win for the Hammers in today’s market.
As mentioned, we haven’t heard much about this player in the window so far, but ExWHUemployee did send out a warning shot about the player in regards to Lucas Perez being linked to Deportivo Alvares:
I don’t know with facts at mo, I’m due back in the Uk tonight and will get info on Monday. Perez was always gonna be sold, they and 3 other Spanish clubs have always been interested so probs true. It’s also a club we are dealing with for one of their players so would make sense https://t.co/0dElCKYIcA
— ExWHUEmployee (@ExWHUEmployee) June 1, 2019
Could that other player, in fact, be Guillermo Maripan?
What really excites me about this potential signing, especially in comparison to the signing of Roberto last week, is that Pellegrini and Husillos are addressing player recruitment with different lenses. By this, I mean that it was appropriate for us to sign Roberto at 33 because the position demands so little and we have youth prospects coming behind him in a few years time.
Next. West Ham Pulse – Hammers Polls and Goodbye Lucas Perez. dark
In comparison, Maripan’s signature would presumably light a fire under Diop and Balbuena as a young player, hungry for starting minutes. This is exactly what we need, a signing that not only provides depth but also gives Pellegrini a player he can build the future of the team around. Come on now, hurry up Spanish window!