Free Agent FC West Ham should actually pursue Mario Goetze
By Adam Smith
With more and more reports suggesting West Ham’s board will not spend on player transfers, a loan for World Cup and Bundesliga Champion, Mario Goetze, would be acceptable.
This is not compliance with the “minimal outlay” the board wishes to invest in this year’s team, however, it is acceptance of what will be a challenging year for this club. When looking at squad depth, investment is needed, and without actually recruiting young, hungry players, veteran players should be targetted.
Mario Goetze, of German National team, Bayern Munich, and Borussia Dortmund fame is currently a free agent and despite his recession from striker or centre-forward into a more usual attacking midfield role, West Ham should pursue him as there is a very specific role Goetze could fill in this team.
No Albian Ajeti, no Jordan Hugill, and no chances being given to Xande Silva, means that West Ham have two strikers they trust with the first team at the moment. Sebastien Haller needs a striker partner and Michail Antonio is injury prone. Cover is needed to get this team working properly and insulated from injury.
Goetze, at 28, might not have the killer instinct and speed at his peak but his pedigree is undeniable and his age isn’t too old to contribute to a team. In a healthy Hammers team, Goetze could be the perfect compliment as a solo striker or, more importantly, in role beside Haller.
Michail Antonio is West Ham’s striker when they need to play long-ball football. His work rate, physicality, and speed makes him an ideal player to lump the ball up the pitch to as he holds off defenders by himself. To Antonio, Goetze would be nothing more than backup or late-game relief.
To Haller, Goetze could be a solid striker partner and someone who could play off of the big Frenchman, utilizing his superb layoffs and passing. Antonio does really well with this, but having two strikers and playing two strikers is a recipe for disaster. Goetze’s positional awareness and goal-scoring touch could prove a perfect foil to Haller’s style of play.
He’s a free signing, he’s under 30, and he’s a proven goalscorer at an elite level. West Ham could do a lot worse thank Goetze as a depth option. With the potential moving on of Manuel Lanzini, Goetze becomes even more of a bargain as cover for CAM, too. Maybe West Ham supporters are desperate, but Mario Goetze is a fine fit for the Hammers.