Slaven Bilic, the West Ham manager has got his team into the top half of the table after a mediocre start this season and he is already looking to improve on the squad to give himself a chance to compete for a place in Europe next season. He has been looking at a number of players recently but one player that can help the Hammers take the next step is Everton star Gerard Deulofeu.
The 23-year old who is currently on loan at AC Milan is also wanted by his former club Barcelona who have a buy-back clause in his contract but it is understood that Slaven Bilic is now ready to spend around £15m for his services this summer. Is this Everton winger a decent acquisition for West Ham United? Here is why Deulofeu could turn out to be a masterstroke for the London outfit this summer.
Failing to get into the first team under Ronald Koeman this season, the former Barcelona man was pushed out on loan to Italy to see if he can improve and Deulofeu has certainly impressed many in his short stint at the San Siro this year. He completed a loan switch to Milan in January and has already made nine Serie A appearances, scoring a goal and picking up three assists to help AC Milan close to a place in the Champions League. His performances for the Italian outfit also saw him earn a place in the Spain national setup and surely, the 23-year old is heading in the right direction.
Known for his tireless energy, Deulofeu is one of the most hardworking players currently in Italy. His discipline in defence is just an added bonus to his creativity and technique at the other end of the field. Though not a prolific goal scorer, the Everton man is capable of playing on all the three attacking positions while his ability to find space in dangerous areas time and again make him an influential player.
The Hammers have used the likes of Manuel Lanzini, Robert Snodgrass, Michail Antonio and Andre Ayew on the wings in various times this season and Deulofeu is surely a player who can beat them to the first team in years to come.
West Ham United have failed to create enough in games that they have performed well this campaign and Bilic is looking for a player who can improve the attacking quality of the squad. Though he has been linked at the likes of Michy Batshuayi and Jermaine Defoe for a move this summer, Deulofeu could be a season changing addition for Slaven Bilic this summer.
Bilic has established a system at the Olympic stadium that sees his team dominate their opponents in the air in the old English fashion but they have not been at their best when having to play through defences who sit back deep. This is where the Everton man can be a game changer. His experience in the English league will allow him to settle into the club quickly while his technique and ability with the ball will see him create ample chances for his side next season. Also a threat in set-pieces, Deulofeu is a superb player who will surely come good in years to come and the Hammers should do everything they can to land him this summer as he could turn out to be more than a masterstroke for Slaven Bilic next season.
