The transfer window opens in one week and any guesses which club is hogging all the limelight? No, not Bournemouth, it’s West Ham United. After their frivolous high-profile links last summer that included eminent stars from among the biggest clubs in Europe, they settled with Simone Zaza and quietly got themselves ousted from the Europa League losing to some Romanian club Astra Giurgiu.
The targets have changed for the club now. From challenging for the top four bracket, it has taken a tidal shift to escaping the relegation zone. They have lost eight of the opening 17 Premier League matches this season so far and seems like Bilic has toned down his ambitions in the transfer window as well.
According to Guardian, the Hammers are after Jermain Defoe of Sunderland and are plotting a 6 million pounds bid. Let that sink in.
Desperate times has often forced the strongest of men to bow and this is only Slaven Bilic. Bilic is no more looking at a team who are scoring wonder goals from Payet’s world-class assists. The manner in which West Ham secured three points in their last match against Hull City says volumes about the team. And, of course, Alan Pardew’s sacking has its own effects.
34-year-old Defoe has been quite brilliant this season given how Sunderland started off their campaign. Even in their worst patches, the England striker managed to squeeze in one at the back of the net. And that knack finally helped when the Black Cats overpowered Bournemouth at their backyard.
Defoe has scored eight goals this season and registered two assists. He has a shot accuracy of 50% and wins 48% of his average duels. Apart from all this, he gets the job done.
Although his offensive attributes like offside awareness, aerial prowess and crossing haven’t been that sharp now, he is a great finisher. And with Payet and Lanzini providing balls from the flank, he could be lethal.
West Ham United have suffered agonisingly up front so far with Andy Carroll injured for most of the season and Simone Zaza failing to get any touch on the ball for most of the part. The fact that Bilic got some refuge in Michail Antonio, the wing back who played as a striker and is now the highest scorer, says it all.
Defoe will undoubtedly be an upgrade for West Ham’s attack, no matter how little. Of course, he won’t be the only import, that’s for sure and more quality players will only bring out the best from him.
However, one humongous argument would be- why would Sunderland, who apparently have no money to even get players on loan and who are fighting a relegation battle themselves, give their star striker to a local rival for that meagre an amount?
