West Ham linked with two desirable options at right-back

The transfer window has been set and with that bit of news West Ham’s links to new defenders have intensified with right-back seemingly the first to be nailed down.

Two names have popped up for West Ham and their search for defensive depth and stability, two names that have been linked for quite some time. River Plate’s Gonzalo Montiel and Barcelona’s Moussa Wague are both likely favourite to bolster the Hammers’ backline.

First up is Montiel, the Argentina international and more established of the two prospective right-backs. If we consider Ryan Fredericks being kept on the team and Ben Johnson being loaned out, Montiel would likely be the favourite to start the season at right-back.

The 23-year-old defender has 91 matches of top tier Argentinian football under his belt, as well as now four appearances for the senior Argentina international team. No longer a prospect, Montiel would be a buy for the now and for the future, pushing Fredericks and looking to establish himself immediately.

Wague, the Barcelona prospect, ended up at Nice in Ligue 1 this January on loan instead of East London where he was previously linked to a move to West Ham. At just 21 years old, Wague is a relatively untested prospect and would be a gamble of a signing. The payoff could be huge, but him not settling into a new league would hurt the club.

Wague finished this season with five Ligue 1 games, two Champions League matches, and one La Liga match under his belt. While varied and against great opposition, you’d really want your up-and-coming prospect to be getting more game time to grow as a player.

For these reasons listed above, Wague comes second to Montiel as a potential West Ham signing. The Hammers have struck gold from South America with the likes of Manuel Lanzini (despite his recent form) and Montiel could be the next best defender we’ve never heard of.

One thing to consider is that Ryan Fredericks cannot be forgotten in this equation. He has put together two strong performances against Norwich and Burnley and is holding up injury-wise very well since the restart. Don’t expect the speedster to allow anyone to take his starting spot without putting up a fight.