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Can These Three Free Agents Help West Ham Beat The Drop?

By Henry Tomlinson

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 01: General view inside the stadium as the LED screens shows a message of VAR checking goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion at London Stadium on February 01, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 01: General view inside the stadium as the LED screens shows a message of VAR checking goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion at London Stadium on February 01, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) /
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West Ham United confirmed the signings of Tomáš Souček, Jarrod Bowen and Darren Randolph during the January transfer window, but there are still some options available that can help the Hammers stay in the Premier League.

If a player is signed as a free agent then they can play for the club immediately, despite not being signed during a designated transfer window. In the current market, there are still some players without a club who could definitely help the West Ham United cause.

Despite fans not wanting the club to sign aging journeymen anymore, like Patrice Evra. There are times when that type of player can bee brought in and certainly help the team.

Ignazio Abate (Right-Back)

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 05: Ignazio Abate (L) of AC Milan celebrates his goal with his team-mate Patrick Cutrone (R) during the serie A match between AC Milan and Hellas Verona FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 5, 2018 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
MILAN, ITALY – MAY 05: Ignazio Abate (L) of AC Milan celebrates his goal with his team-mate Patrick Cutrone (R) during the serie A match between AC Milan and Hellas Verona FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 5, 2018 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) /

Abate has been a free agent since his release from AC Milan in July 2019. The former Italian international was a brilliant right-back for the Rossoneri. Abate was brilliant defensively and charging up the wing and providing attacking support.

The right-back position has been a problem for West Ham this season and many seasons before, Ryan Fredericks has been injury prone and also accident-prone when he has played. Whereas, Pablo Zabaleta is now 35-years-old and his age has finally caught up with him. The Argentine has been constantly caught out by opposition players with any sort of pace.

Abate might not have the pace he once had but will still outrun Zabaleta, and he will be able to add some much need experience to West Ham’s backline. If the Hammers signed the 33-year-old on a short-term deal he could be the perfect blend between Fredericks and Zabaleta.