West Ham United were a busy club in the January transfer window, having added a couple of exciting names to their first team, to help them for the rest of the season. However, David Moyes was not finished yet, as he has now signed one of the most experienced left-backs in Europe at the moment.
West Ham Sign Patrice Evra:
Just days after the transfer window shut, West Ham United have announced their latest signing. The official West Ham website announced today that former Manchester United star Patrice Evra has passed a medical at the London Stadium and will be available for selection for the game against Watford at the weekend.
“I’m really happy to be a Hammer, to be back in the Premier League and I love this game!” Evra said, speaking to the official site.
Also monitored by Everton, Evra reportedly preferred a move to the English capital and will reunite with Moyes, who he worked with for a year at Manchester United. He is currently banned from participating in any UEFA competitions but can play in the domestic games, until June 2018. So is Evra a decent acquisition for West Ham?
Evra And His Numbers:
A product of the academy at PSG, Evra played for four different clubs before joining Manchester United in 2006. In his time at Old Trafford, he won five Premier League titles, the 2008 Champions League, three League Cups, five Community Shields and the FIFA Club World Cup. He was shipped off to Juventus in 2014 where he won two league titles in three seasons.
He joined Marseille as a free agent at the start of the current season and was a backup left-back for the side, making just four league starts all season. However, he has 273 PL appearances, 135 Ligue 1 appearances, 108 UCL appearances to add to 81 international appearances for France. He also captained his national side for a couple of years and is one of the most established stars in Europe at the moment.
At 36, he may not be as agile and athletic as he was in his prime but Evra can still put in a shift when needed. Strong and aggressive with his approach to the game, he is a solid defender, who can win balls in the air and make interceptions to give his side an edge. He is also a decent crosser and can help set up goals for his teammates on a regular basis.
He hardly makes mistakes and could be the answer to West Ham’s woes against tougher opponents in the league.
Chances At West Ham:
The Hammers have used Arthur Masuaku as the first choice wing-back on the left flank while Aaron Cresswell has stuck to his job as a CB or as a left-back. Evra can play in both those roles and to good effect.
Masuaku’s suspension has left Moyes with very little options in this role and trusting a player who he has already worked with, and on a free, was probably his best option, given that the transfer window is now shut.
The Hammers will want to cement their place in the top half of the table and Evra, even with all his controversies, is a man who can help them achieve their goals.
Stats Courtesy: Whoscored
