West Ham United, under Manuel Pellegrini, showcased steady improvement during the second half of the previous campaign and are now all set to challenge for a place in Europe with some serious summer spending. They have already roped in Pablo Fornals from Villarreal for £24m and are now closing in on Porto attacker Moussa Marega to bolster the frontline according to Portuguese outlet A Bola.
The Malian is currently representing his country in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations contest. However, he is unlikely to return to Porto upon completion of his international duty and would rather ply his trade in England. The 28-year-old centre-forward is valued at around £31m and would offer the cutting edge to West Ham’s attack that often underperformed last season.
The exit of Andy Carroll and Lucas Perez has left the Irons with Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez as the only names available to spearhead their attack. Marega, who found the net 21 times in 47 appearances altogether during the previous term, is finally close to fulfilling his dream of experiencing the excellence of English football.
The Hammers failed to persuade Porto to strike a deal for him 12 months back. But an agreement is in place this term over a potential transfer to the Premier League and the player, known for his pace and physique, should not find it difficult to adjust to the demands and challenges while featuring for the Stratford-based outfit.
Marega had a productive run in the Champions League and also impressed against Liverpool in the quarterfinal even though his finishing let him down despite creating some astounding chances on his own.
Moussa Marega’s versatility would add something different to this West Ham team
He, however, has not at all been wasteful in front of goal while leading the line for the Portuguese giants over the past couple of campaigns and his ability to operate from the flanks would inject much-needed flexibility in West Ham’s attacking third.
The presence of Fornals along with Manuel Lanzini and Felipe Anderson would offer fluidity as well as a creative spark from midfield. They now need players who can convert those opportunities and trouble the opponents with their physical and aerial domination along with goal-poaching instinct. Both Arnautovic and Hernandez have proven their class and calibre in the Premier League, and it is to be seen now how Marega settles down in this part of the world after exhibiting his excellence in Portugal.
