Aaron Ramsey in action for Wales (Getty Images)
According to Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t football.london), West Ham United are one of the clubs linked with a transfer for Aaron Ramsey. The Juventus midfielder is seeking a return to England, with Premier League clubs Crystal Palace and Everton also interested in the services of the former Arsenal man.
The report mentions that Juventus could be open to a loan transfer for Ramsey with an option to buy the player at the end of his spell. Here, we look at why Ramsey presents himself as a useful addition to the West Ham United squad that is preparing for a European venture next season.
David Moyes likes to play with a 4-2-3-1 formation. It is a set-up that requires the use of a double pivot with an attacking midfielder. Apart from that, we have also seen the former Everton manager field a 5-4-1 formation that requires two central midfielders.
For a manager that likes to switch around his formation, Moyes does not have a plethora of options in midfield, especially if the current situation is considered. Yes, the club have Tomas Soucek and Declan Rice but there is a lack of backup for them. For instance, Soucek played in all 38 games this season.
If he encounters an injury next season, the club would not have a natural central midfielder to call upon and replace him in the line-up apart from captain Mark Noble. But Noble is in the twilight of his career at 34 years of age and is in the final 12 months of his current contract at the Hammers.
Moreover, highly-rated defensive midfielder Declan Rice is linked with a move to Chelsea, as per a report by The Telegraph (Subscription Required) last month. If that move happens, Moyes could be really short of central midfielders. Manuel Lanzini has played in central midfield but he is an attacking midfielder.
Pablo Fornals, an attacking playmaker, was used by David Moyes on the left-hand side for most of this campaign. In light of this, West Ham find themselves in a precarious position regarding midfielders. And that is where Aaron Ramsey comes into the picture – as a timely addition to the Hammers squad.
The Welsh midfielder has immense experience of playing in the Premier League, which comes as a bonus. He made 371 appearances for Arsenal before his move to Juventus in the summer of 2019. There, the midfielder won the league title in his first season. He is also still only 30, which indicates he has a fair amount of football left in him.
If West Ham go through with their interest in Ramsey, especially if it comes as a loan transfer, then they can have an experienced central midfielder who can play a number of positions across the midfield.
The deal makes even more sense when Jesse Lingard’s return to Manchester United is considered. The Englishman was used a lot by Moyes during his loan spell but the player is now set to return to Old Trafford. And West Ham really need to start filling up the gaps that are appearing in their squad before it’s too late.
