West Ham Could Fill Two Holes With This One Signing

As the transfer window approaches West Ham should be on the lookout for players that could come in and strengthen the team.

Fans of West Ham are pretty convinced that there are three places in the team that need reinforcements for the second half of the season. The three positions that need the most attention are striker, centre-midfield and left-back. Two of these positions could be filled by one clever transfer.

Manchester City utility man, Oleksandr Zinchenko is a reported loan target for West Ham. The 24-year-old has been in the Premier League since 2016 but has never been able to hold down a regular spot in the Citizen’s team of stars.

In the four years, he has been at Manchester City for the Ukrainian has made seventy-four appearances for the club. Zinchencko has always performed solidly and never seems to make a mistake. The utility man has also chipped in with two goals and six assists during this time.

The benefit of signing Zinchenko on a loan deal from City is that he would cover both left-back and central midfield. During the player’s career, he has been utilised across the team, the positions the 24-year-old is most accustomed to is central midfield and left-back. Exactly what West Ham need.

The Hammers current options in those positions need strengthening in different ways. At left-back, the injury to Arthur Masuaku has caused the whole team to shift the system to adapt to the defender’s loss. In the midfield, the club’s first-choice options are very strong in Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek. Zinchenko would, however, provide another option should one of the two get injured.

Mark Noble is currently the only other natural centre-midfielder in the club. The veteran is in his thirties now and with his powers fading the club need to find a replacement. Zinchenko has plenty of experience in the role and could prove to be an excellent back-up option. Bringing in Zinchenko would help the club fill two holes in the squad in one move.

The club will have to do some business before signing the Ukrainian on loan. With Said Benrahma and Craig Dawson on loan, the club’s quota for domestic loans is full. West Ham could, however, trigger Benrahma’s purchase early and make him a permanent signing. The other option would be cancelling Dawson’s loan and sending him back to Watford.

Considering Benrahma’s deal includes an obligation to buy at the end of the season, it could be a good option to activate to strengthen the team further now. West Ham have also been linked with a move for full-time left-back Borna Barisic from Rangers.