According to The Sun, West Ham United are among the clubs interested in bringing back Emmanuel Adebayor to England next season. The ex-Tottenham and Real Madrid superstar is currently a free agent this summer after leaving Istanbul Basaksehir this week on mutual consent. However, the Hammers could face stiff competition from Sheffield United and league rivals Watford in the pursuit of this Togolese forward.
Adebayor’s career in recent years
Since leaving Spurs back in 2015, Adebayor had a short stint at Crystal Palace during the second half of the 2015/16 campaign. The 35-year-old scored only one goal in 12 league appearances and left Selhurst Park the following summer.
He was a free agent for half a season before joining Istanbul Basaksehir in January 2017. He became a first-team regular for the Turkish giants and enjoyed a productive spell in the Superlig. The Togolese striker notably scored 15 goals in 30 matches during the 2017/18 campaign, helping his club finish third in the league table.
But, Adebayor has struggled to continue his scoring run this past season, netting only three goals in 19 matches. And now having ended his three-year stay in Turkey, the feisty attacker is once again looking for a new challenge elsewhere.
What can Adebayor bring to the table?
It’s probably needless to say that Adebayor isn’t as prolific a striker as he once was during his time at Arsenal. However, the 35-year-old can bring a lot of experience into the team, having enjoyed a decorated career. He has made almost 250 appearances in the Premier League and 88 appearances in Ligue 1.
And despite his growing status as an ageing forward, Adebayor is still known for his aggression and intelligent positioning in the final third that once made him one of the most feared attackers in Europe.
Should West Ham make a move for Adebayor?
West Ham are said to be searching for potential replacements for Andy Carroll. The Hammers announced the departure of the former Liverpool star at the end of last month.
But, instead of opting for an ageing striker like Adebayor, it would perhaps be wiser for Manuel Pellegrini to scour the market in search of a young forward, who will have room to improve and can bring that youthful exuberance to the team.
Besides, at the age of 35, it’s unlikely Adebayor will be able to perform in the Premier League that has significantly developed over the years, especially in terms of its fast-paced nature. Instead, he will only be an unnecessary addition to the wage bill. Hence, the Irons should drop their pursuit of this experienced forward.
