Transfer Speculation
As per one of the latest reports by The Irish Sun, West Ham United are believed to be interested to sign OGC Nice’s attacker, Alassane Plea, in the summer. However, signing him is going to be a costly affair and it is perceived that it will cost the Hammers around £25million to lure him to the London Stadium after the calibre he has shown this season.
Fact File
Plea emerged through the youth ranks of Lyon and after making his presence felt while he was in the ranks of Lyon’s B side, he was elevated to their first team. However, he couldn’t cement his place with Les Gones and after a loan spell with Auxerre, he was signed by Nice in 2014. Besides, he has represented France Under-18, Under-19, Under-20 and Under-21 sides as well.
Season So Far
Ligue 1 boasts of having the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Edinson Cavani and Neymar but Plea has been one of the most appealing players in the French top-flight this season. In 31 league appearances, he has smashed 14 goals and registered 4 assists. Further, he was scintillating in the Champions League as well as he collected 4 goals and 1 assist in 8 outings.
Attributes
The Frenchman is a cunning attacker and is capable enough to ply his trade as a centre-forward as well as a winger. He holds the ball meticulously in the final third and links up with his teammates in a commendable fashion in the final third. Plea has raw pace in his legs and that makes it hard for the opposition to mark him.
Besides, he is an excellent dribbler and tests oppositions’ goalkeepers time and again from close quarters and long ranges. He is a clinical finisher and is quite appealing in the air, However, he has been criticized on plenty of occasions for his lack of defensive contributions and improper crosses and he must improvise himself to better his stature in coming seasons.
Why West Ham United Need Him?
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The Irons have been very mediocre in the English domestic competitions this season and they do need some reinforcements in the summer to bring some freshness into their squad. The 25-year-old, at the onset, seems to be a decent target for them as he has the potential to uplift the attacking prowess of David Moyes’ side. However, he is unfamiliar with English football and that might be a cause of concern for West Ham United.
