It seems West Ham United have set their target bar quite high again for the transfer season. After increasing reports of the London side eyeing a move for Manchester City star Yaya Toure emerged earlier this week, it has now added another City player, Pablo Zabaleta.
West Ham United have had a disastrous season this term and their poor defending was a huge factor. The Hammers have conceded 59 goals so far, this season and West Ham’s injury plagued squad has helped little in West Ham’s cause. Especially the right-back’s position, which has been a constant crisis for the Croat manager.
Among the feasible options in that position, Bilic had Alvaro Arbeloa and Sam Byram. And an early injury to the former Real Madrid man left little choice with the manager. Young Byram was already injured then and Bilic had to play with central midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate in that role for most of the season.
Arbeloa, West Ham’s first choice right-back has played just 3 games for them in the league this season, struggling with his calf injury. And Byram, the second-choice has played 16 times, missing 17 games this season with a hamstring injury. It was the most important part of the season, which almost decided their fate.
Bilic isn’t taking any such gamble next season and after a fantastic turn of events, which sees them in the Premier League next term despite being closer to the relegation zone for most of the season, Bilic wants proven players over highly-rated stars.
And Zabaleta fits the bill perfectly. The Argentine is out of contract at the end of the season and with Guardiola planning a major restructuring before kicking off next season, Zabaleta doesn’t quite see his place there. He has also lost his first team place under the Spanish manager managing only 18 league outings.
A lot of clubs are reportedly after the full-back with his availability more or less a surety this summer and West Ham will face stiff competition. Getting Zabaleta will surely pay dividends for the Hammers given his experience at the top level. Since his arrival to City back in 2008 from Espanyol after rejecting Juventus, Zabaleta has won the Premier League title twice, one FA Cup and two League Cups.
He will bring the much-needed winning mentality into London Stadium and his ageing feet could settle for a three-at-the-back defence that will finally allow Bilic to play Michail Antonio in a more advanced role.
