West Ham United have turned their fortune around in the Premier League with a number of gritty performances in the last couple of months under the tutelage of veteran manager Manuel Pellegrini. However, they need to strengthen their team in order to keep performing well and could look to add a few players to their squad in the January transfer market.
According to Mail Online, the Hammers are looking interested in Newcastle United midfield ace Jonjo Shelvey. The former Swansea City man has been underused in the current season by Rafa Benitez and could look to make a move out of the club in January. It would be a good acquisition for the West Ham manager if he could land the Englishman.
The east London side have been hit by injury worries as a number of their key players, including the likes of Jack Wilshere, Andriy Yarmolenko, Carlos Sanchez and Manuel Lanzini, are long term absentees for the Hammers. This has made it necessary for West Ham to add a quality player to their midfield to increase squad strength and Shelvey could be the one for them.
Shelvey himself had missed some playing time due to injuries but has recovered well and has been raring to go at the St James Park. However, Rafa Benitez has not handed him enough playing time this season, which might see the player leave the Tyneside club.
The Englishman can control the ball well in the middle of the park and initiate attacks with his accurate passing and intelligent deliveries into the danger area. He also can score goals from a variety of ranges, which could come handy for Pellegrini if he could land him. Shelvey’s physicality while vying for the ball with the opposition players is also an added advantage for the former England U21 international.
It would be a very disappointing outcome for the Hammers if they cannot hold onto their position in the Premier League table which they have earned despite all their drawbacks this season. However, the lack of squad depth had affected their results in the earlier stages of the season, and it would be a wise decision for them to get someone like Shelvey into the side.
With Mark Noble not getting any younger and Pedro Obiang failing to establish himself as a cemented starter, there is an obvious vacuum. The Newcastle United midfielder could just be the perfect foil for the high-flying Irishman Declan Rice in the middle of the pitch for West Ham United. It would be a good move for the player as well who is striving for regular game time at St James Park.
