In a recent print edition (13 December, page 59), The Sun provided an update on West Ham United‘s pursuit of KV Oostende forward Fashion Sakala. It is understood that the Hammers could face competition from Newcastle United in the race to land the Zambian attacker who is keen on joining the Premier League next year (transcripted by HITC).
Sakala’s Rapid Rise In Belgian Football
Sakala has enjoyed a rich vein of form in the Jupiler Pro League of late after producing a string of eye-catching performances as the focal point of Alexander Blessin’s attack. He has banged in five goals and grabbed one assist in 14 appearances for the Belgian outfit this term across all fronts.
The 23-year-old has given a good account of himself in the final third as he is averaging 2.5 shots, 1.1 key passes and 1.0 dribbles per game in the Belgian first division. However, he needs to improve his accuracy when distributing the ball as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 71.4% in top-flight football (stats via whoscored).
The five-time Zambia international has established himself as one of the best attacking talents in Belgian football. However, there are some concerns over whether he has got what it takes to maintain his good form in the Premier League where he can expect to be tested both physically and emotionally week in week out.
What Does The Zambian Speedster Bring To The Table?
Sakala has got blistering pace under his belt that enables him to breeze past his marker with ease out on the wide areas. Standing at 1.78m, he is not the tallest of strikers but possesses a great leap in him which helps him win a lot of headers in the opposition half.
Furthermore, the Zambian sensation packs a lot of power with strikes at goal and has transformed himself into a prolific goal-scorer in the Belgian top tier. Only time will tell whether he can prove his worth in the Premier League if the Hammers decide to bring him to the English capital in the future.
Is Sakala The Right Choice For The Hammers?
Based on his recent form, Sakala will be a decent choice for West Ham as he has got the pace to cause a lot of damage up top. He could serve as a solid back-up for Michail Antonio and is good enough to fight with Sebastien Haller for a place in David Moyes’ match-day squad.
All in all, the Hammers should consider engineering a cut-price move to lure the Zambian international to the London Stadium when the transfer window reopens in January or at the end of this campaign when the player will be available on a free transfer.
