da 888casino： With the season slowly drawing to a close as just seven match-days remain, it’s time to consider what some Premier League clubs will be up to in the transfer market this summer.
da prosport bet： And the first port of call, in Football FanCast’s opinion at least, should always be to raid those unfortunate clubs who just have plummeted out of the top flight; firstly for players they can no longer afford to keep and secondly for players who’ve indisputably proven themselves to be too good for the English second tier.
With just seven points separating Leicester City at rock-bottom and Sunderland in 15th – or perhaps more importantly, just three points separating the Black Cats and a 19th-placed Burnley – there’s plenty of relegation-bound stars on offer at the moment.
And knowing how West Ham like to maintain their ever-shrewdness in the transfer market, we’ve listed FIVE lads the East Londoners should target this summer if their respective clubs fail to beat the drop.
SEB LARSSON
For a side of such renowned dominance in the air, West Ham’s set piece return isn’t as almighty as one might expect this season.
They rank sixth in the Premier League with eleven goals, but a squad blessed with aerial combatants such as Diafra Sakho, Andy Carroll, James Tomkins, James Collins, Winston Reid and Alex Song – to name just a few – could probably be doing a little better.
A set piece specialist is in order. And thus, I point the Hammers in the direction of Sunderland’s Seb Larsson, Sweden’s answer to David Beckham.
The 29 year-old isn’t the goalscoring midfielder once was, netting only five times since the seven goals of his debut Stadium of Light campaign in 2011/12, but he’s still a real threat from dead ball situations – especially when providing – and after so many years in the Premier League is far too experienced to surrender himself to the Championship.
His tenacious spirit and industriousness only further suit the Hammers’ style of play. But with two years remaining on his current contract, the Black Cats are by no means obliged to sell this summer.
Kieran Trippier
Amid reports of Liverpool targeting Hammers loanee Carl Jenkinson, the East Londoners may find themselves requiring a new right-back this summer should they fail to land the Arsenal youngster permanently.
One relegation-inspired alternative comes in the form of Burnley’s Kieran Trippier – a lesser famed but equally important part of the Turf Moor outfit’s safety bid alongside sought-after striker Danny Ings.
He won consecutive slots in the PFA Championship Team of the Year in the two seasons preceding Burnley’s top flight ascension last summer and during the 2013/14 campaign amassed the most assists of any player in the division – an impressive 14 – even bettering Hammers summer signing Aaron Cresswell.
This year, the 24 year-old has continued to impress as one of Burnley’s predominant outlets going forward and an ever-present member of their starting Xi, claiming four assists in 31 appearances. Likewise, his average of 1.7 chances created per match is the highest rate of any player within Sean Dyche’s squad.
In my opinion, Tripper has proved himself more suited to the top flight than most Burnley players this year – but even if they do go down, Burnley will be reluctant to sell.
RON VLAAR
With Winston Reid set to depart on a free transfer and James Collins now the wrong side of 30, some fresh blood is needed at the heart of the Hammers’ defence this summer – and the club could certainly do a lot worse than bosman-bound centre-back Ron Vlaar.
Concrete Ron might not be quite as formidable as his humorous moniker suggests, but he’s proved himself to be of Premier League standard during his three campaigns at Aston Villa, serving as club captain for the majority of that time, and demonstrated his potential to play at an even higher level last summer – reaching the World Cup semi-finals with the Netherlands.
He’s a brutish and basic defender, but that fits perfectly into the Hammers’ functional style. Likewise, he’ll be leaving Villa Park on a free transfer this summer, having already rejected several contract offers from the Birmingham club.
Whether West Ham find themselves eclipsed in their pursuit of the Dutch international, however, remains to be seen – he’s been linked with moves to Manchester United and Spurs this summer, to name a few of his tabloid-mooted suitors.
MATT PHILLIPS
West Ham have lacked genuine wide options this season, with Stewart Downing proving far more effective in central attacking roles and Matt Jarvis showing only further regression.
And although Matt Phillips spent his first few months in the Premier League rather anonymously, he’s been in fantastic form over the last few weeks, notching up two goals and seven assists in his last eight appearances – including that absolute stunner against Crystal Palace a few weeks ago.
That makes the 24 year-old the Premier League’s top creator for 2015 and suggests, given a bit more game time, he could become a decent wide-man at top flight level.
QPR’s wage bill is so large they’ll have to downsize should they plummet into the Championship this season, and with just two years remaining on his current contract the Scotland international is a strong candidate for an inevitable cash-in.
His incredible form during the campaign’s final run-in, however, will have undoubtedly caught the eye of several Premier League clubs.
ESTEBAN CAMBIASSO
In an otherwise Championship-standard Leicester City side, Esteban Cambiasso’s quality and experience has stood out a country mile.
The former Argentina midfielder is the Foxes’ second-top scorer with four from 23 Premier League appearances this term whilst averaging 2 tackles, 2.1 interceptions and 1.1 chances created per match.
Now at the ripe old age of 34, the former Inter Milan star – who won five Serie A titles and the 2010 Champions League during his time at the San Siro – doesn’t offer the Hammers much in the way of longevity, or for that matter, stamina in the middle of the park.
But consider the positive impact a Champions League-standard midfielder like Alex Song has had on West Ham this season; Cambiasso, although perhaps not quite at that level anymore, has the potential to do the same.
Furthermore, his contract’s up in the summer and Leicester almost certainly won’t bother renewing if they go down. He’s clearly a short-term signing, but on a free transfer could prove to be a very astute addition to the squad for next season.