Slaven Bilic has made a good reputation for himself as a manager who can identify hidden gems and can transform lesser-known players into stars. Players like Michail Antonio, Manuel Lanzini are all cases in point. Even West Ham’s lynchpin and one of the Premier League’s best players Dimitri Payet owe it to the Croatian maestro for the heights he reached over the course of the last season.
Slaven Bilic made history in his very first season at West Ham reaching the club’s best ever points tally in Premier League era. The Hammers were just a whisker away from breaking into the top four although they can still qualify for the Europa League if they can beat Astra Giurgiu is the playoffs. After making a brilliant use of the transfer window signing a host of talented players, West Ham still finds themselves in a tricky situation due to the injury crisis at the club and probably need a few more players to deal with the situation.
Carroll, Ayew, Payet, Cresswell, Feghouli, Lanzini, Henry, and Sakho- all are right now on the treatment table proving that even the deepest of squads can be stretched by injuries. Especially the attacking midfield department has been hit badly by injuries and it’s not really surprising to see the Hammers getting linked with another winger. West Ham United are interested in signing Antonino Ragusa from AC Cesena in the summer transfer window, according to Alfredopedulla.com.
Ragusa is an Italian attacking midfielder who can also ply his trade on either flank. One of the standout players in Serie B last season for Cesena, the 26-year-old deserves to play at a bigger stage now and West Ham will make a shrewd signing out of him. The aforementioned report claims that the Italian could be on the move for just €2.5 million (£2.16m) which is not an issue for the Hammers at all.
Desperately craving for more depth in the squad, Ragusa would be a nice addition to the East London club. The 26-year-old scored eight goals and provided seven assists in 38 Serie B games last season. Yes, Serie B might not be the best league to judge a player’s caliber but Ragusa has what it takes to do a decent job at the Olympic Stadium.
With a frame of 6 feet, Ragusa is a strong customer and possesses a very good technique. As you expect from an Italian, the 26-year-old is tactically and technically sound and knows when to release the ball. Someone who can feature both as a number ten or a winger, Ragusa’s versatility would offer Bilic the breathing space he needs right now following the injury scare.
