West Ham United were left heartbroken after they lost their last match against AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup fourth round. The Hammers were taken to the sword by the hosts at Kingsmeadow as they scored four against them. Felipe Anderson and Lucas Perez scored two goals, but their effort proved futile as the east London side crashed out of the tournament.
With no more hopes of a silverware in sight, the Hammers would now look to finish the season on a respectable position. It has been a campaign ravaged by injuries for Manuel Pellegrini’s men, and he would hope to add a few new faces to increase his squad depth.
According to The Mirror (27 January, page 61), the Chilean gaffer has his eyes on the Slovakian midfielder Stanislav Lobotka, who plies his trade for the La Liga side, Celta Vigo. The player has been one of the most highly rated midfield aces in the La Liga this season and has reportedly attracted the eyes of a number of suitors with his diligent displays.
The player has made 15 appearances so far this season for Celta Vigo in the La Liga and has reportedly done enough to impress the West Ham manager. Lobotka is just 24 years old and could be a long term addition to the Hammers’ midfield.
West Ham United have lost the likes of Jack Wilshere and Manuel Lanzini through injuries, and that was a significant blow as the duo could have given a world of stability to their midfield this season. However, the addition of the young Slovakian would help the Hammers provide some much-needed steel in the middle of the pitch. The player could also be a like-for-like replacement for the veteran ace Mark Noble, who is not far away from calling it a day at the London Stadium.
Lobotka’s agility and composure in the middle of the pitch could also come in handy for Pellegrini if he can pair him up with Declan Rice. The 24-year-old Slovakian could turn out to the perfect foil for the high-flying Irishman and turn the West Ham United midfield into one of the strongest in the Premier League.
Pellegrini has done a fabulous job so far this season and should not throw away the advantage due to injury worries. The addition of a player like Lobotka could be a masterstroke from the Chilean gaffer in order to invoke new energy in the side and also increase the depth of his team. However, it might also turn out to be a risk as the player has no prior experience of playing in the Premier League. But given his ability to hold the midfield together on his own, it might be a risk worth taking for the former Premier League winning manager.
