According to Italian journalist, Nicola Schira, West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini is not interested in Olivier Giroud or Suso. But instead, the Chilean wants to sign a new right-back as he prepares for life without Pablo Zabaleta, who is due to leave the club after the end of the season.
In this article, we will talk about three right-backs Pellegrini could target in the upcoming January transfer window.
Nathaniel Clyne
Despite Trent Alexander-Arnold’s monumental rise to prominence within the past 18 months or so, Nathaniel Clyne is still shockingly a part of the Liverpool side. Not for long, however, especially with the January transfer window edging to a close.
Clyne would be desperate for a way out of Anfield, having often been overlooked by Jurgen Klopp in the past couple of seasons. West Ham, in that regard, could emerge as an ideal suitor for the 14 times England international.
The Hammers desperately need an alternative for Ryan Fredericks at right-back and Clyne might not be a bad choice. The 28-year-old has a vast amount of experience in the Premier League, which could be important for a West Ham backline that doesn’t have much experience in top-flight English football.
He could be available for a cut-price as well, with his contract at Liverpool expiring at the end of the season. However, it’s fair to point out that the Liverpool star is currently nursing an ACL injury and is tipped to return in February of next year.
Serge Aurier
Serge Aurier’s days at Tottenham Hotspur are likely numbered following a disastrous start to the campaign. The Ivorian has failed to replace Kieran Tripper, who joined Atletico Madrid in the summer. Instead, he has become more of a liability, notably putting a host of inconsistent performances.
His performance against Bayern Munich, in particular, allowed Serge Gnabry to score four goals as the Bundesliga giants secured a 7-2 victory. But, Aurier could potentially revive his career at West Ham, who would give him the first-team status he needs. However, he might actually be the most expensive player on this list.
Kingsley Ehizibue
While Clyne and Aurier have a considerable amount of experience at the highest level of football, West Ham could take a risk and sign Kingsley Ehizibue. The FC Koln right-back has raised a lot of eyebrows with some impressive performances in these early parts of the campaign.
A product of the PEC Zwolle youth academy in the Netherlands, Ehizibue is known for his pace and tenacity, meaning he could be an ideal fit for the high-paced nature of the Premier League. Besides, his high work-rate could make him a perfect cog in defence for Pellegrini’s pragmatic style of play.
However, as iterated earlier, signing Ehizibue is a risk as he has minimal experience at the highest level of football.
