West Ham United have been alerted by the frustrations of Harry Arter with his current club Bournemouth. The 28-year-old midfielder has started just 11 games out of the 26 in the Premier League this season and was left unused for the last 5. This is a huge cause for concern not only for the player himself but the Republic of Ireland team as well. No player in their prime wants to warm the benches behind the likes of younger teammates and Arter is currently facing a similar situation.
Arter was quoted, “When a player my age is not playing and someone who is desperate and just loves playing football, there comes a question over whether long term it is going to the right place for me. Ultimately if I am not playing, there has to be a change — and I am sure the manager would understand that. If I don’t play between now and the end of the season and am a continued spectator then, naturally, there would a be a discussion.”
Interests from West Ham had already been revealed in the January transfer window and the Cherries were demanding £15m at the time. However, his value is expected to reduce a bit now that he is clearly out of favour with the Bournemouth management. Eddie Howe prefers the pairing of Lewis Cook and Dan Gosling in the heart of the park with Scott Daniels and Ryan Fraser providing width from the flanks.
It has worked so far with the Cherries now enjoying a run in the 10th spot of the points table, well away from the bottom three. They triumphed over both Chelsea and Arsenal over the past month to keep their relegation worries at bay for a while.
However, the 4-1 loss to Huddersfield Town last weekend was a disappointment but the midfield was not the one to blame. The defensive efforts were lacking and Bournemouth pretty much invited their own problems trying to be too clever on the ball.
West Ham United are just a point off Bournemouth themselves and are a rejuvenated side under David Moyes this season. Their early relegation worries were addressed and corrected by the former Manchester United manager and it looks like he is here to stay judging by the expansion plans that he is drawing up.
The first thing he had noticed when he arrived at London Stadium was the imbalance in the Hammers squad. The strike force was heavily stacked while the midfield was devoid of quality creative options. Mark Noble and Manuel Lanzini are the only playmakers in the team with the latter currently serving a spell on the sidelines.
The Argentine’s absence is costing the side significantly and Moyes needs to make additions. While Joao Mario has come in over the January window, he will be returned to Inter Milan after the season comes to an end. Arter can be brought in as the permanent replacement and fielded alongside Noble in the holding midfield role.
