Who is Erick Pulgar and why do West Ham need him?
We all should know that as West Ham fans, we get linked to everyone under the sun or at least we have. With the rumor and possibility of Obiang gone, does a Chilean midfielder rise on the list?
Erick Pulgar currently plays center defensive midfield for Bologna in the first tier of Italian football. Saying that is, however, simply the beginning. Unless you are a fan of Serie A, you most likely have little to no knowledge of Bologna of Pulgar, but you should.
The 25-year-old from Chile (we will touch on that soon) he been on the rise and is reaching the peak of his young career. Having only played in two different countries, Chile and Italy, some might shrug him off and overlook him but much like Balbuena, one couldn’t be more wrong.
Last season he played in 30 total matches, he put in 6 goals and assisted on 3, and is already miles ahead of outgoing Obiang and his match controlling abilities.
He is from South America, Chile to be exact, which creates a link to manager Pellegrini a native of Chile himself. West Ham and Husillos/Pellegrini’s connection to South American talent is everpresent in the current team with Felipe Anderson, Fabian Balbuena, and Manuel Lanzini etching out important roles for the club.
Additionally, he is already playing and performing well at a top European club. No, it’s not the EPL or Bundesliga, but Serie A is a quality league and Pulgar has made it his home and played well there since 2015.
West Ham have the likes of Coventry, Cullen, Oxford, and Sanchez that can fill the role but are anything of them ready? Do some of them need to leave or go on loan? The answer is different for both, but what West Ham need is someone who can back up the midfield now and Pulgar, in my opinion, is that guy.