West Ham United have been quite active in the transfer market, and they are eyeing a move for Colombian midfielder Carlos Sanchez. The 32-year-old currently plies his trade for Italian outfit Fiorentina, and he could be looked as a replacement for Cheikhou Kouyate who went on to join Crystal Palace. Manuel Pellegrini has shown good ambition in the transfer market, and he has been backed well by his owners.
Sanchez was part of the Colombian squad at the World Cup, and he gave a good account of himself in Russia. However, some fans might think that this is a step in a backward direction as Sanchez is already 32 and will find it tough to get used to the dynamics of the Premier League. Though he has an experience of English football as he was with Aston Villa for two years from 2014-2016, that time was not fruitful for the 32-year-old. On top of it, he is a veteran of 88 games for his country.
Sanchez strengths lie in his physicality as he is challenging to outmuscle from the ball. He is firm in his challenges and is a workhorse for his side in midfield. Mark Noble struggled last season for the East London outfit as he was often run over by stronger and younger opponents. That is one of the reasons why this move can’t be classified as a real upgrade as Sanchez is likely to be on his decline at this point in his career.
The defensive midfielder spent the second half of last season on loan with Spanish outfit Espanyol where he made 14 appearances. His experience will come in handy as the 32-year-old has played in almost all the top Leagues of the world. He is likely to be used more as a squad player, and he will bring a depth and competition for places in midfield.
