West Ham United are all set to get into a battle in order to convince their fantastic performer of the season in the form of Pedro Obiang as it has been reported that Liverpool are plotting an audacious move for the 24-year-old midfielder in the summer transfer window.
Having joined from Sampdoria in 2015, Obiang has set the ground ablaze this time around for the Hammers and it is no surprise to see a big club like the Reds queuing up for the midfielder. However, it is important for Bilic to opt for proactive measure to replace Obiang and here are three players he could assess to meet his needs if the Spaniard decides to leave.
Lucas Leiva
If the London-based outfit are looking for a versatile player who could ply his trade as a holding midfielder as well as a centre-back, the name of Lucas Leiva must be thrown into the picture.
The 30-year-old Liverpool midfielder has truckloads of experience in the top tier of English football, owing to the fact that he has played for the Reds for around a decade and possesses the requisite steel and technical know-how to operate from the middle of the park. Moreover, he would be coming for free as his contract with Liverpool ends in the summer. What more could West Ham United long for?
Thiago Maia
Thiago Maia is one of the hottest properties to have erupted onto the scene from the football fanatic nation of Brazil. Maia’s unprecedented rise to the top could be attributed to his excellent calibre of slotting seamlessly into Santos’ defensive midfield setup and he would be an ideal replacement should Obiang leave the London Stadium.
The left-footed 19-year-old youngster bullies the opponents’ attacking threats with ease and despite being a blossoming star, he barely refrains himself from getting into tight areas and impliedly, he cushions the backline resiliently. He is a promising lad and if shown the right direction, which would be the case if he moves under the guardianship of Bilic, he can very well be the next big thing of the game.
Bryan Dabo
Bryan Dabo’s sensational times with Ligue 1 outfit, Montpellier, caught a lot of attention and was eventually taken away by fellow Ligue 1 side, Saint-Etienne. However, Dabo’s progress has stalled ever since his move to Stade Geoffroy-Guichard as he has failed to register any sort of commendable outings under Christophe Galtier.
With a move to the ranks of the Hammers, along with a pat of confidence on his back from Bilic, the 25-year-old could very well resurrect his career and hit the ground up and running.
