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West Ham signing this forgotten £40m Man Utd star would be a smart business move

Why Nemanja Matic would be a smart signing for West Ham

According to 90min (h/t The Express), West Ham are keen to sign Manchester United outcast Nemanja Matic in January.

The Serbian, who joined for £40m, hasn’t played a Premier League game since the 2-0 defeat at West Ham in September. He has fallen down the pecking order under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and is currently out injured.

There is no timeframe for his return and even when fit, Matic has played second fiddle to Scott McTominay. His only Premier League appearances came in September because of Paul Pogba’s injury.

The report adds AC Milan and Inter Milan are keen on the defensive midfielder, who will be out of contract in the summer. That being said, West Ham must go all out to sign Matic from United during the winter transfer window.

Manchester United's Nemanja Matic in action against Burnley. (Getty Images)
Manchester United’s Nemanja Matic in action against Burnley. (Getty Images)

West Ham are without a win in their last six Premier League games and have fallen down the standings. The Hammers have picked up just two points from a possible 18 and have lost to Crystal Palace, Everton, Newcastle and Burnley in recent games while picking up draws against Sheffield United and Bournemouth.

Manuel Pellegrini really needs to turn things around and get West Ham’s season back on track. One of the issues for Pellegrini is that his midfield has really struggled lately, with Declan Rice going off the boil.

Mark Noble’s injury in the 3-0 defeat to Burnley will also be a concern for Pellegrini, who has limited options as far as central midfield is concerned.

With Jack Wilshere injury prone and Carlos Sanchez proving one of the worst buys under Pellegrini, West Ham definitely could do with midfield reinforcements in the New Year. In that regard, Matic would be perfect for the East London outfit.

Nemanja Matic joined Manchester United from Chelsea in 2017. (Getty Images)
Nemanja Matic joined Manchester United from Chelsea in 2017. (Getty Images)

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Matic is a Premier League proven material and even at 31, he can easily provide West Ham with two-three quality years. A move to West Ham would be ideal as he could potentially form a strong partnership with Rice at the heart of Pellegrini’s midfield.

Verdict

Matic would be a top acquisition for the Hammers and if Pellegrini manages to bring the ex-Chelsea star to east London in January, it will represent a significant piece of business.