Why West Ham United must complete the £26.5million transfer of Rodrigo Battaglia

Why West Ham Should Complete A Deal For Rodrigo Battaglia This Summer

West Ham United are interested in a summer swoop for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Rodrigo Battaglia, as per a report from The Sun.

The 26-year-old has played a key role for the club this season and his prolific displays have attracted attention. Battaglia is an immensely talented player and The Sun has claimed that the deal could be worth £26.5million.

That is a steep price but keeping the price tag aside, there is no doubt Battaglia could become a highly important player for the Hammers.

After a season filled with more downs than ups, West Ham find themselves at 14th place in the Premier League standings. They are 5 points away from the drop zone and are looking increasingly likely to survive in the top-flight beyond the end of this season.

However, next season will bring greater challenges and to that end, a move for Battaglia does seem advantageous. More than anything else, Moyes’ utmost priority for the upcoming summer transfer window must be to build a strong team and a player like Battaglia could definitely provide a solid foundation to do that.

A defensive midfielder by trade, the Argentine is proficient at linking the defence with the attack and that is something West Ham have missed in the midfield.

Known for being an indirect set-piece threat, Battaglia is adept at dribbling and is quite strong in aerial encounters as well. Although he mostly plays as a defensive midfielder, Battaglia can also be deployed as a central midfielder and as a right-back.

He is energetic and tenacious enough to make a difference and on paper, he seems like a player who possesses all the qualities required to truly make an impact on a seemingly struggling Hammers side.

There has been a significant lack of balance at West Ham and it is quite evident from their performances. Furthermore, having a player like Battaglia can add a much-needed layer of defensive cover for the club.

Thus, given a choice, Moyes must definitely make a move for Battaglia. He can bring a lot to the table and would truly improve West Ham’s chances next season.