West Ham United XI After The January Window Featuring Bournemouth Midfielder Harry Arter
West Ham United are reportedly interested in a January move for Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter. The 27-year-old is understood to have been closely monitored by the Hammers and David Moyes is keen on bringing him to his squad.
Ever since Slaven Bilic was sacked, the new manager has been under immense pressure to deliver results and although they are still close to the relegation zone, there have been some encouraging signs. To keep their steady flow of good fortune, a player like Arter could prove to be a step in the right direction.
As far as central midfield options go, Moyes has the likes of Pedro Obiang, Mark Noble and Cheikhou Kouyate at his disposal. However, a player like Arter could add some much-needed depth to the squad. The road ahead will not be easy for West Ham and they will need a lot of hands on the deck if they are to secure a higher finish.
Their displays in the middle have been quite decent but there is room for improvement and judging from how Arter has held the team together for the Cherries. If he were to join West Ham, this is probably how the team could line up.
Kouyate has been struggling to maintain fitness which often ends up affecting the performances of those playing with him. For example, in their recent game against Newcastle United, Obiang did his duty quite well but Kouyate’s lack of form came dangerously up to the fore, which often caused sloppiness in the middle.
Also, Obiang has not done much for the attack of late and a player like Arter could severely bring improvements on that front. It will also give Moyes better options at his disposal in the event of injuries.
West Ham need stability in the midfield. More often than not, their players in the middle have been overrun by their opponents and they lack a solid figure in the middle. Also, Mark Noble’s injury has severely dented the options at hand, which in turn seems to have cost the club. This cannot go on if they are to secure a higher finish.
Hence, a move for Arter is definitely a requirement for Moyes. That said, it will be interesting to see if the player actually leaves Bournemouth to join West Ham. Comparatively, the Cherries have done better this season and have improved under Eddie Howe’s watchful eyes. However, the Hammers must consider going all out to land Arter since he does seem like a sturdy yet an economic option for Moyes in January.