According to Express, West Ham United are eyeing a £20 million summer swoop for Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos. The Spanish midfielder has been deemed surplus to requirement for next season by Zinedine Zidane, and a move to the Premier League could be on the horizon.
West Ham’s midfield woes
West Ham United have invested a lot of cash in their transfer market dealings in recent years. Especially in the midfield department, the Hammers boast the services of a host of quality players.
But, a majority of those star midfielders have struggled with frequent injuries throughout the campaign. The likes of Jack Wilshere, Carlos Sanchez, and Manuel Lanzini have all mustered less than 750 minutes of league action due to their respective injuries this season.
Lanzini’s absence, in particular, has left a large gaping hole in the creative department, further blighted by the injury of Andriy Yarmolenko. As a result, the Irons have appeared overreliant on the services of Felipe Anderson this campaign.
However, Anderson has become a subject of interest from Real Madrid. The Los Blancos have identified the former Lazio star as an alternative, should they fail to sign Eden Hazard.
Why West Ham United need someone like Ceballos next season?
The potential departure of Anderson will create further problems for West Ham, thus accentuating the need for a new playmaker. Ceballos, in that regard, is an exciting option given his ability to create chances. The Spaniard is a technically gifted midfielder and an excellent ball-carrier in the half-spaces. His excellent close control allows him to ease the transition from midfield to attack. And this makes him a tailor-made fit for Manuel Pellegrini’s tactical system.
He is also a versatile midfielder, who can operate not only as a number ten but also as a number eight. This could benefit Pellegrini given his tendency to often switch between a double-pivot and a three-man midfield setup.
Should West Ham make a move for Ceballos?
As iterated earlier, West Ham have struggled with injuries to their key midfielders this campaign. Hence, the addition of Ceballos can provide Manuel Pellegrini with the much-needed depth in the creative department.
His excellent chance creation, coupled with his versatility, could also provide his team with the right balance in midfield heading into the future. And at the age of 22, Ceballos is undoubtedly a smart long-term investment for the Hammers as they aim to finish in the top half of the table next season.
