West Ham United give former France star a chance: Pros and cons of a potential transfer

West Ham United have given former France and Arsenal star Samir Nasri a chance to train with the club and the player may join the club permanently if he can impress Manuel Pellegrini.

Reports from the BBC say that Nasri will train with the Hammers and until the end of December and he will be eligible to play after that as his 18-month doping ban comes to an end on the 1st of January.

As of now, it remains to be seen if the club will sign him eventually. We look at the Pros and Cons of a potential deal.

Nasri to West Ham United – Pros

It’s probably fair to acknowledge the fact that Samir Nasri is a talented player, who can be an excellent addition to West Ham if he gets his act right. The emphasis on the word if, there.

He is a wide-midfielder, who loves to cut in and create chances in the middle of the park. This could be ideal given the fact that both of West Ham’s key wingers in Andriy Yarmolenko and Felipe Anderson more or less follow the principle, which, in turn, makes Nasri an ideal candidate for the inverted winger role at West Ham.

Additionally, he loves to take on defenders, thus fitting into Manuel Pellegrini’s attack-minded gameplay. Nasri is also blessed with excellent vision while his remarkable ball-control and swift movements allow him to keep the ball even in tight spaces.

But, what makes Nasri such an appealing for the Hammers is his vast experience and good relationship with coach Manuel Pellegrini, who he had worked with during his time at Manchester City.

Nasri to West Ham United – Cons

While Nasri is undoubtedly a talented operator in the final third, there are also significant downsides in regards to his gameplay, one of which is his lack of fitness.

Indeed, fitness has always been an issue for the Frenchman, who has endured a lot of injuries in the past before he was initially banned for doping charges, which served as the new low.

He is also known for his bad temper, which could be harmful in the dressing room, especially now that West Ham have managed to find an identity under Pellegrini this season.

Nasri’s contract with Turkish Superlig club Antalyaspor was terminated in January shortly after his doping charges. And he hasn’t played professional football since, which will bring question marks regarding his ability to perform at the highest level of football once again.