In a recent tweet, renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano stated that West Ham United are in advanced talks to land Guido Rodriguez, who is a free agent at the moment. It has been claimed that the Hammers are working on a deal to sign the Argentina international after his move to Barcelona collapsed following Xavi’s exit.
Rodriguez’s Impressive Form In Spanish Football Last Season
Rodriguez had a solid campaign at Real Betis recently as he produced a run of dominant displays for them at the centre of the park. The Argentine talent participated in 29 matches for the Spanish outfit last season, netting a couple of goals and grabbing one assist across all fronts.
The 30-year-old anchored the midfield with conviction based on his average of 2.2 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 1.6 clearances per game in La Liga football. He was even accurate when distributing possession from midfield after completing 85.9% of his attempted passes in top-flight football (stats via whoscored).
As mentioned earlier, the Argentine midfield ace is currently a free agent which makes him an affordable option for the Hammers to pursue this off-season.
Will Rodriguez A Good Fit For West Ham United Boss Julen Lopetegui?
Rodriguez is a solid tackler of the ball and can time his challenges well to secure the ball back for his team inside his half. He doesn’t mind clearing his lines when needed and can chip in by scoring the odd goal for his team.
The Argentina international is a tidy passer of the ball as well and has got a wealth of experience at the highest level. He is primarily a holding midfielder but can also serve as a box-to-box midfielder if told to do so.
We can expect Rodriguez to bring more bite and steel to West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui’s midfield. He is more than capable of nailing down a regular starting spot at the London Stadium next season.
At 30, Rodriguez has still got a few good years left in him to play at a high level. Therefore, he would be a good fit for West Ham‘s needs in the short term. However, only time will tell whether the Argentine sensation can make a smooth transition to life in England.
