Transfer Talk:
When hosts of top English clubs are linked to a particular player, it is very rare that some mid-tier team pops up as a contender to lure the player too. However, in the current scenario, the case is completely different from usual. West Ham had invested quite well enough to increase their fans’ hopes for the summer.
However, managerial blunders coupled with the fact that the team failed to live up to its potential in crucial matches have hampered their season so far. No wonder, David Moyes might already be looking for targets in the transfer market. After all, the summer is where half the battle is won these days. Even the lesser renowned teams dutifully plan out their transfer strategies and hence invest smartly on players.
One such player who is touted to move to West Ham is Bryan Cristante.
Player and the hype surrounding him:
Cristante is a box-to-box midfielder but generally likes to play in advanced positions. He is good at spraying passes from the midfield as he initiates attacks with his precise passing skills. The lad is a constant figure in the opposition’s box too.
His goal-scoring ability has been thoroughly utilized by his current club i.e Atalanta. The midfielder shows immense composure in and around the opposite box. He possesses a calm head in front of the goal and has already amassed seven goals from 24 appearances in the Serie A. He has also created 26 goal-scoring chances for his teammates.
Though none of them has resulted in goals, the statistic demonstrates his productivity in the opposition’s half. Bryan does a decent amount of defensive work too and has a 61% successful take-on rate. He has also won 53% of his aerial duels and can be banked upon to win the ball back at times.
Can the deal go through?
The player is officially a player of Benfica currently. He has been sent on loan to Atalanta and has shown immense potential whilst his time at Italy. Italy has always been a budding ground for young midfielders. The tactical nous and demands of the Serie A mould a midfielder to imbibe better tactical knowledge and discipline into his game.
His qualities suggest that Cristante will be perfectly suitable for the English game. He has the physical built to thwart off any rash challenges. Moreover, the midfielder possesses bags of energy to run up and down the field and hence can drive the team ahead with intelligent interlinking. Like the traditional English midfielder, he excels in the box-to-box role and appears to be present in the right position at the correct time to score goals.
However, with clubs like Liverpool and Arsenal reportedly interested, it remains to be seen if West Ham can pull this deal off. Either way, the lad would be a great addition to the Hammers; if, and it is a big IF, they match the 27 million pounds asking price.