-West Ham opinion: Should the Hammers sell Pedro Obiang?

According to a report from the Daily Star, West Ham are willing to let go of Pedro Obiang in the summer to accommodate Real Madrid’s Dani Ceballos.

The report reveals that the Hammers are willing to pay around £18million to acquire the services of the Spaniard as Manuel Pellegrini is a big admirer of him.

As brilliant a signing as Ceballos would be for the Hammers, selling Pedro Obiang would be a horrible decision, especially with the state of their current squad. West Ham have found a solid midfield pairing this season in Mark Noble and Declan Rice, who have been instrumental in the team’s success.

However, Noble is well into his thirties and Declan Rice could be on the move, with reports linking him with a transfer to clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Manchester City.

Jack Wilshere’s injury problems have continued since his move from Arsenal and young Edimilson Fernandes could seal a permanent move away to Fiorentina, where he has been on loan since the start of the season.

This would leave West Ham heavily exposed in the centre of the park even if they manage to sign Dani Ceballos in the summer. Keeping Pedro Obiang even if he isn’t the first choice under Pellegrini would be the logical move.

Obiang has struggled to nail down a starting role in the squad since the emergence of Declan Rice and he has mostly been used off the bench, having started just 11 games this season.

However, the 27-year-old has provided a sense of security in midfield whenever he has come on and has been a brilliant squad player.

Obiang is technically sound and has the physical stature to be an influential figure in the centre of the park. With regular game time, the Spaniard can regain the form that he showed during his time with Sampdoria, where he was a tank in midfield.

The former Atleti youngster could have a similar impact to Watford’s midfield monster Abdoulaye Doucoure, who has been one of the most underrated players in the Premier League this season.

Obiang has the ability to be a bully in the centre of West Ham’s midfield and with his versatility, playing either as a number six or a number 8 will be a big plus.

Conclusion

West Ham would be making an absurd decision if they were to move on Pedro Obiang, especially with how thin their options in midfield are at the moment. The Spaniard is a fantastic player to bring off the bench, to finish off a game and is also capable of holding the fort from the start.

Read More West Ham news, click here: West Ham latest news

West Ham should not sell the 27-year-old in the summer even if they add another player to bolster their midfield options.