Go for it Moyes – Fulham’s star defender could be a good signing for West Ham

Why Fulham’s Ryan Fredericks Could Be A Good Signing For West Ham

According to reports this week, Premier League side West Ham United are interested in taking Fulham right-back Ryan Fredericks to the London Stadium on a free transfer at the end of the current season.

The 25-year-old flying full-back has been a regular in the Fulham team this term, playing 31 times in all competitions for Slavisa Jokanovic but he’s out of contract in the summer and must have made it plain that he doesn’t intend to stay on at Craven Cottage.

In the January transfer window, Fulham moved to sign the player often described as the best right-back in the Championship, Cyrus Christie. So they would argue that they already have Fredericks’ replacement and that he is even a better player.

The Hammers, meanwhile, have been embroiled in a relegation battle for most of this season and are still only four points above the drop zone. Manager David Moyes would know that he needs to strengthen his squad over the summer to avoid becoming perennial strugglers in the top division.

Having not quite made it at Tottenham where he was a junior, Fredericks gained experience out on loan with Brentford, Millwall and Middlesbrough before heading to Bristol City and then Fulham on permanent deals.

West Ham, of course, have gone cap in hand to the Championship for right-back talent before, signing highly-rated Leeds United man Sam Byram, though a host of injuries have curtailed his development.

They will be hoping Fredericks is different and the fact that he is available on a free transfer come July is a huge factor too. Moyes is keen to take a risk on the player, given that he is an admirer of his; however, whether or not Fredericks can take the step up in his stride is open to doubt.

If I’ve written it once, I’ve written it a million times; football is a very simple game and not one to be over complicated. So, the fact that Cyrus Christie is consistently labelled as the best right-back in the league (some rating, facts and figures once again back it up this season) and Fulham want him in their side now at the expense of Fredericks probably tells you West Ham aren’t getting a player who is good enough right now.

They won’t even be signing Fulham’s best right-back so this remains a risk, but it seems to be one Moyes, in particular, is willing to take.