According to a recent interview with Football Insider correspondent Dylan Childs, former Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips reckoned Connor Goldson would be a bargain for a club like West Ham United or West Bromwich Albion and even compared the Rangers centre-back to pull off a ‘Virgil Van Dijk’ by busting the Scottish Premiership myth. Phillips said (via Football Insider), “There is always a slight worry.
“Van Dijk has bust that myth out of the window, though. If Goldson can come down and do half as well as he did someone is getting a bargain.
“There is always a slight concern because you are not being put under as much pressure up there; you are not attacked as much or do as much defending.
“If you come down here and go to a West Ham or a West Brom you are going to get really tested.
“There is always a slight concern but I would never judge until someone comes down and has a go. These clubs will have done their homework.”
Goldson’s Excellent Form At The Ibrox Last Season
The 27-year-old has been a regular feature in Steven Gerrard’s first-team as he has been one of the most consistent performers at the heart of the Gers backline. He made 51 appearances for the Scottish giants this season, scoring four goals and providing two assists in all competitions which highlight his knack for getting involved in the attacking third.
The English defensive ace has flourished in Europe this season after averaging 0.4 tackles, 0.4 interceptions and 7.1 clearances per game in the UEFA Europa League so far (stats via whoscored). His numbers in Europe explains how dominant he has been for Rangers at the back, but the jury is still out on whether he would be able to maintain such high standards for a club like the Hammers.
Goldson is yet to represent his homeland at any international level. Maybe a summer move to the Premier League could provide him with a more prominent platform to prove his worth and earn a few senior caps for Gareth Southgate’s England national team in the coming years.
What Will The English Centre-Back Add To David Moyes’ Side?
Standing at 1.91m, Goldson can use his towering presence to outmuscle the opposition and win a lot of 50-50 aerial duels inside his own half. He has excellent defensive awareness that allows him to sense the danger quickly and make some crucial last-ditch clearances for his side. The Englishman is a moderately-paced defender who doesn’t mind sitting deep and dealing with the opponent’s crosses from the wide areas. He is also versatile enough to fill in as a right-back if required.
Should The Hammers Get Goldson On Board?
Sealing a move for Goldson could turn out to be an intelligent piece of business for David Moyes’ side before the start of the new campaign. He has shown plenty of signs of his progress at the Ibrox Stadium, so West Ham should consider listening to Phillips’ advice by orchestrating a move for the Gers centre-back this summer.
The Wolverhampton-born talent will not only add more bite and steel to the Hammers defence but also enhance the overall depth of their squad. Plus, he will offer some healthy competition for the likes of Issa Diop, Angelo Ogbonna, Fabian Balbuena and Golcalo Cardoso at the London Stadium in the coming seasons.
The Ibrox star could potentially help the London outfit compete for a European place soon. With all things considered, it makes sense for Moyes to get Goldson on board during the summer transfer period as he is a defender on the rise and could prove to be a solid acquisition ahead of the new campaign.
