World Cup Scrap Heap: West Ham Should Target Canadian Playmaker

With the group stages completed and the round of 16 well underway, the greatest showcase of footballing talent has provided viewers with a few names to circle for their clubs to pursue. West Ham would do well to target versatile Canadian playmaker Tajon Buchanan.

From a suburb just outside of Toronto, through the North American ranks on his way to the MLS, and then making the jump across the ocean to Club Brugge of Belgium’s top football league, Tajon Buchanan has done a lot in his 23 years of life.

West Ham would do well to prioritize a move for the talented and versatile Canadian, Tajon Buchanan.

Canada, under coach John Herdman, flammed out after a promising hard-luck loss to an undeserving Belgium team who waved goodbye to their “golden generation” despite luckily beating Buchanan’s Canadian team. Despite the loss, Buchanan was a notable player for the Red and White with his creativity and speed, frustrating Belgium and Athletic Madrid wide player Yannick Carrasco.

He had his big moment seconds into the match against Croatia, slinging an inch-perfect cross onto the head of Alphonso Davies to give Canada the lead just 120 seconds into the game. The well-worked play arose from Herdman’s up-tempo playstyle that helped Canada find its identity and propel itself into the World Cup in the first place.

Buchanan’s speed and elusivity have made him a building block for the Canadian National Team and for Club Brugge who have seen Buchanan contribute one goal and two assists across 15 matches this year.

Being Canadian myself, I have watched Buchanan intimately in a fascinating and exciting World Cup qualifying run for my nation’s team. Bigger names like Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, or record goal scorer Cyle Larin usually steal the spotlight, but 2022 has been Buchanan’s coming out party and the time to buy is now for West Ham.

He provides versatility too, along with his game-breaking talent. The natural right-winger has spent this season at Brugge implemented at left and right-wing, midfield, and even 85 minutes at right-back.

Canada is quietly becoming a footballing nation and players like Tajon Buchanan are doing everything in their power to put some respect on Canadian National Team players’ names. It isn’t going unnoticed by me and West Ham should perk up to the idea too, much like how they should have stepped up for Jonathan David a few years ago.