A no-brainer: West Ham must go all out for this £130,000-a-week Chelsea star in January

Why West Ham must swoop for Gary Cahill in January

Gary Cahill is considering Chelsea exit in the January transfer window, according to the Metro. The 32-year-old has not played a single minute since new boss Maurizio Sarri’s arrival as head coach in the summer.

The England international has fallen down the pecking order, thanks to Sarri’s tactical set-up unlike his predecessor Antonio Conte, who used three central defenders. Also, the return of David Luiz from long-term injury has limited Cahill’s opportunities and the defender is willing to quit Stamford Bridge midway through the campaign.

As the 32-year-old centre-back is eyeing for an exit from Chelsea, should West Ham swoop for Cahill in January?

West Ham appointed highly-regarded manager Manuel Pellegrini this summer but they have struggled in the Premier League, failing to get a single point on board from the first four games of the season.

Despite making quality additions, especially in defence, the Hammers have been shocking and already are at the bottom of the table.

Pellegrini has attracted a lot of criticism for West Ham’s failure this season and he needs to sort out his team’s weaknesses before time runs out. What has been the most disappointing thing to watch is the manner in which West Ham have leaked in goals, with the entire defence looking devoid of ideas and pace.

The team has lacked a leader at the back, a defender who is capable of taking responsibility and guiding the club in tough situations.

That’s where Cahill would be such a brilliant player to have in the West Ham squad. Cahill joined Chelsea back in 2012 from Bolton Wanderers and since then, he has established himself as one of the finest centre-backs in England.

He formed a rock-solid partnership with former skipper John Terry and helped the Blues to their first ever UEFA Champions League trophy back in the 2011/12 campaign.

The 32-year-old has won seven major trophies at Stamford Bridge, including two Premier League titles and a Europa League, making 282 appearances in all competitions. He was also a part of Gareth Southgate’s team that reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in Russia.

Despite slowing down considerably in the last couple of years, the £130,000-a-week Cahill remains a reliable centre-back who can perform at the highest level with total efficiency. With his towering stature, he should provide West Ham with the much-needed physical presence in the box.

Not only is he extremely calm and composed at the back but Cahill is also a leader, whose experience would be invaluable to this West Ham side. He would certainly be the best mentor for the young Issa Diop.

Read more: A blunder by Pellegrini? West Ham might regret splashing £17.5m on 28-year-old attacker

So if Cahill makes himself available for a move away from Chelsea in January, signing him would be a no-brainer for West Ham.