According to Standard, West Ham United are set to take a call on Samir Nasri next week, who has been linked with a move to London Stadium in recent weeks.
Nasri is currently a free-agent after seeing his contract terminated by Antalyaspor earlier this year but a move to West Ham looks like an attractive prospect for the Hammers considering the quality of the player. But, what will Nasri bring to the table for Manuel Pellegrini’s men?
Samir Nasri: An ideal signing for West Ham?
Mostly known for his successful stint with Manchester City and Arsenal, Nasri is a type of player who can add flair to the West Ham midfield.
Although the Frenchman is generally recognised as a wide-midfielder, he often tends to cut inside and operate in more central areas of the pitch – which was rather evident during his spell with City.
Nasri’s ability to rotate possession with quick passes combined with his excellent technical qualities make him an ideal player for Pellegrini, whose team have been heavily dependent on Felipe Anderson to provide the spark this season.
Jack Wilshere has struggled with both form and fitness along with the likes of Lanzini and Yarmolenko. Nasri, in that regard, makes perfect sense as he can not only contribute to the attack but will also bring in immense experience and knowledge of the Premier League.
Indeed, the 31-year-old has featured in over 350 competitive matches during his time in England, France and Spain, over 200 of which came in the Premier League. meaning the Frenchman is unlikely to have any difficulties in settling down.
Even more so considering the fact that the 31-year-old has worked with Pellegrini during their time together at Manchester City and thus, it is expected that the Chilean mastermind will be able to make full use of this highly experienced midfielder, who can surely revamp West Ham’s midfield department.
Furthermore, the French star is also a versatile player, who can be deployed anywhere across the middle third of the pitch, giving Pellegrini more freedom in terms of his squad rotation. His offensive creativity is also a vital asset with the player having registered 40 assists during his time at the Etihad.
On the flip side, however, Nasri’s awful disciplinary record combined with question marks about his work rate and desire to give it all on the pitch could disrupt the environment and camaraderie inside the dressing room and having hardly played any professional football this year, one could question his credibility of performing at the highest level once again especially when considering his fitness levels.
