In a recent print edition, Il Mattino offered an update on West Ham United‘s pursuit of Villarreal left-back Pervis Estupiñán this summer. It is understood that the Hammers are ‘willing to offer more’ than Napoli in the race to recruit the Ecuadorian defender during this summer transfer period (transcripted and translated by Sport Witness).
Estupinan’s Successful Campaign At Estadio de la Cerámica
Estupinan caught the eye with his performances for the Spanish outfit last season as he managed to help them win the UEFA Europa League trophy. The South American talent was involved in 33 matches for the Yellow Submarine in the previous campaign across all competitions.
The 23-year-old proved his worth as a reliable full-back by averaging 1.5 tackles, 1.4 interceptions, 0.5 clearances and 0.7 key passes per game in La Liga last season. He even took care of the ball well when distributing it to his teammates, as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 80.5% in the Spanish top tier (stats via whoscored).
Estupinan is growing into a top talent in Spanish football, so the Hammers will do well to lure him to the London Stadium before the end of this ongoing transfer window. At 23, he has got a very bright future in European football which makes him a decent, long-term option for West Ham to consider this summer.
Will Estupinan Be The Right Choice For The Hammers?
Estupinan is often quick to react to the danger and can put his foot through the ball when needed. He can use his pace and agility to drive to the byline and create a few inviting opportunities for his teammates up top. The Ecuador international is a tough-tackling defender who can make some crucial interceptions for his side. He is usually a good passer of the ball as well that makes him such an important member of Villarreal’s match-day squad.
West Ham boss David Moyes can use a player of Estupinan’s skill set as he has what it takes to rival Aaron Cresswell and Arthur Masuaku for the left-back position at the East London club over the next few years. The Ecuadorian sensation will enhance the depth of Moyes’ squad and could help the Hammers compete for a major trophy in the coming seasons.
Hence, Estupinan will be a decent choice for the London giants to pursue in this off-season. The Villarreal star has the ceiling to become a fan-favorite at the London Stadium as long as he can cope with the physical nature and high intensity of Premier League football.
