According to Turkish Football, West Ham United are interested in the services of Okay Yokuslu. The Celta Vigo midfielder has impressed the onlookers of La Liga with consistent performances this campaign. As a result, both West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur are keen to sign him up for next season. The Hammers, in particular, are desperate to add to their midfield options and could make a move for Yokuslu this summer.
West Ham’s injury woes in midfield
West Ham have quite a stacked midfield department. They boast the services of players like Jack Wilshere, Declan Rice, Carlos Sanchez, among many others. However, both Sanchez and Wilshere have featured in less than 400 minutes of league football this term.
Another key midfielder in Pedro Obiang has also struggled with injuries, having played only 1,404 minutes of football. The Spaniard is reportedly listed as one of the players likely to leave West Ham this summer. Furthermore, it took until February for star playmaker Manuel Lanzini to return to full fitness. As a result, manager Manuel Pellegrini was overdependent on the midfield duo of Rice and Mark Noble this campaign.
And to make matters worse, Rice has been a subject of intense transfer speculation, with a host of top clubs across England reportedly interested in his services. His potential departure will create a large gaping hole in the West Ham midfield. Hence, the addition of a new midfielder will be paramount if West Ham are to push for the European places next season.
Where does Yokuslu fit in?
As iterated earlier, Yokuslu has enjoyed a good season at Celta Vigo. And his combative style of play will ideally add more security to the West Ham midfield. A defensive midfielder by trade, Yokuslu has mostly interchanged between a holding midfield and a central midfield role this campaign. This could benefit Pellegrini, who, himself, has often switched between a two-man and a three-man midfield setup.
From a tactical perspective, Yokuslu can be deployed alongside Noble in a 4-3-3, with Andriy Yarmolenko and Felipe Anderson operating in wide-attacking roles. The two inverted wingers can cut-inside, allowing the two overlapping fullbacks to run in behind the defence. Yokuslu’s presence, meanwhile, will offer more solidity while his impressive ball circulation will help West Ham’s overall ball retention.
Alternatively, the 25-year-old can operate alongside Rice in the double-pivot. These two midfielders are defensively solid, which will allow Manuel Lanzini to play with more freedom in the final third. This will make West Ham a much more competent and complete side heading into the new season.
Therefore, making a move for Yokuslu will be a logical move decision for West Ham. The Turkish international has impressed in the Spanish top flight, and at the age of 25, he will be a smart long term investment for the Hammers.
