Why West Ham United Must Make A Move For Russian Sensation Fyodor Smolov
West Ham United are being linked with a move to sign Russian goal-scoring machine Fyodor Smolov, who currently plays for FC Krasnodar. New manager David Moyes needs to bring in some much-needed strength to the attack in order to turn things around at the club and Smolov does seem like a worthy option to do just that. Sitting at 18th spot, the Hammers are teetering on the brink of relegation and will need new recruits if they are to face the uphill challenge that lies ahead of them.
Valued at a modest rate of £15million, Smolov could be interested in moving to the Premier League. At 27 years of age, he is likely to be open to testing new waters and he will have quite a challenge to face if he does join West Ham. As of now, the striker has been in exemplary form for Krasnodar. He has produced some fine performances so far this season and has scored 9 goals and provided 2 assists for the club in 12 league appearances.
West Ham do have the likes of Javier Hernandez and Andy Carroll but neither of them has produced any positive results so far. Even though Hernandez did provide some signs of encouragement, Carroll continues to struggle. This has left the club truly short of options up front and at a time like this, they will need all the power they can. Surviving this season and remaining in the top-flight will be their utmost priority and considering what Smolov is capable of, he does seem like the right option.
Moreover, Diafra Sakho has found it difficult to remain fit for a lengthy period of time. He has also failed to maintain consistency and a player like Smolov can considerably boost West Ham’s attack. He is quite experienced and that will be useful when they play against stronger opponents. To add to that, the Russian is likely to fit right into the Premier League given his pace and goal-scoring skills.
While bringing Smolov in seems like a must, Moyes must also look to boost other areas that seem light in terms of depth. The central midfield is one such area and they need fresh faces who can inject some dynamism into their game right now. Hence, the January window will prove to be crucial for the Hammers – even more so since it could be a golden opportunity for them to land a player of Smolov’s calibre.