According to a recent report by Marca, Deportivo Alavés will allow their centre-back Guillermo Maripán to leave the club at the end of this campaign amid interest from West Ham United. However, the same source has also claimed that the Hammers would have to meet Alaves’ valuation of the player which is believed to be around €25m. If Manuel Pellegrini wants to bring the Chilean defender to the London Stadium during the summer transfer window, he has to pay that amount.
Maripan’s Career At A Glance
The South American defensive ace began his playing career in Poland playing for CD Universidad Católica’s youth team before establishing himself as a regular starter for the club’s senior side. Alaves decided to give him a chance to prove his worth in Europe back in the summer of 2017.
The 25-year-old has enjoyed a solid season in the La Liga thus far after putting in some commanding displays at the back for Abelardo Fernández’s side during this campaign. His defensive contributions have helped the Spanish club steer clear of the relegation zone as they are now sitting in the 10th position with a healthy ten-point gap separating them from the dreaded drop zone.
Maripan has featured in 25 matches for the Spanish side this term and has two goals and two assists to his name across all competitions. More importantly, he has made an average of 2.0 tackles, 1.7 interceptions and 5.7 clearances per match for Alaves so far (Stats taken from Whoscored). The talented centre-half has also earned 13 international caps for Chile and is expected to play an integral role for them in the coming years.
What Does The Chilean Defender Offer On The Pitch?
Maripan boasts incredible strength and is very strong in the air. The Chile international can be an authoritative figure at the back and has a no-nonsense attitude to defending. He tends to win a lot of aerial duels and is a potent threat during dead-ball situations in the opposition half.
The potential acquisition of a proven defender like Maripan will undoubtedly bolster Pellegrini’s defensive options at the London Stadium. The Chilean talent will provide some healthy competition for Issa Diop, Fabian Balbuena and Angelo Ogbonna while also increasing West Ham’s squad depth.
Should The Hammers Meet Alaves’ Demands For Maripan?
The La Liga defender would be an excellent fit for the Hammers so Pellegrini would be wise to meet Alaves’ demands in this off-season. Maripan has the potential to be a world-class prospect in the future but only if he can continue improving as a defender. Thus, West Ham should consider meeting the La Liga team’s asking price so that the transfer can go through without any hassle.
