According to a report by The Sun, West Ham United star Pedro Obiang could leave the club this summer. The likes of Fiorentina, Besiktas and Villarreal are reportedly interested in his services and they could acquire him for a fee around £15m.
The 26-year-old was a key member of the West Ham squad last season. He maintained consistency even as the club went through a slew of ups and downs. But a knee injury in late January ruled him out for the rest of the season.
With new manager Manuel Pellegrini at the helm, a lot of new changes are expected at West Ham. He faces an uphill task ahead of him but the former Manchester City manager is experienced enough to make a difference at the London Stadium.
However, to do so, he will need to make numerous changes. Hence, it might not be far-fetched to suggest that Pellegrini could consider selling Obiang to raise some much-needed funds to bring in newer players this summer.
Since Obiang’s injury, the Hammers visibly struggled without his presence. And in such a crucial transformation phase, would it be wise for Pellegrini to let him leave?
Given the extent of his contributions to West Ham’s cause last season, perhaps Pellegrini should retain his services. Obiang might not make flashy moves or score eye-catching goals. But he is a sturdy performer in the middle of the park and is extremely hard-working.
While it is important to have a few “flair players” in the squad, it is equally crucial to hold on to reliable performers such as Obiang. Furthermore, West Ham are extremely short of options in the central midfield area.
Selling Obiang now would place greater stress on them to make quality signings in a department where they already lack quality players.
If they had certain players they could depend on, parting ways with Obiang might not have affected them as much. But right now, they cannot afford to lose the 26-year-old unless Pellegrini is confident about bringing in a solid midfield enforcer this summer.
But transfer windows are uncertain and thus, the Chilean manager must retain Obiang’s services for the time being at least.
The Hammers face tough times ahead and one cannot deny that it is important for them to bring in new faces. That said, they must hold onto the ones they can depend on and Obiang certainly features on that list.
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