Why West Ham should sign Ryan Fraser for free in the summer

According to the Mirror, West Ham are eyeing a summer move for Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser, who will be out of contract at the Vitality Stadium at the end of the ongoing campaign. 

Premier League giants Liverpool and Arsenal were previously linked with a move for the 25-year-old but West Ham have now entered the race to snap him up for free this summer. (h/t Mirror)

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has admitted that the club have held talks with the Scottish international over a new deal to extend his stay on the south coast but Fraser is prepared to keep his options open amidst widespread interest from other top clubs in the division. (h/t Mirror)

Fraser, who finished the 2018-19 campaign in the Premier League with 14 assists, hasn’t been anywhere near as prolific this term. The diminutive winger has only scored once and assisted thrice in 23 league outings for the relegation-threatened Cherries so far. 

The 25-year-old initially made his mark in Scotland with his hometown club Aberdeen before earning a move south of the border to Bournemouth back in January 2013. Fraser has since been a bonafide witness to the Cherries’ unprecedented rise under Eddie Howe – from being League One strugglers to a competent mid-table outfit in the Premier League.

Fraser has clocked up a total of 202 appearances for Bournemouth in all competitions so far, registering an impressive tally of 24 goals and 32 assists.

Having scored just 27 goals and conceded 38 in 23 games so far this season, the Hammers’ problems at both ends of the pitch have been well-documented.

Verdict

Indeed, Fraser would be a good signing for West Ham. With the creative cavalry of Felipe Anderson, Manuel Lanzini, Andriy Yarmolenko and Pablo Fornals struggling to live up to the expectations at the London Stadium so far this term, Sebastien Haller has been left to feed on scraps more often than not. 

Moreover, the Mirror understands that Fraser fits the profile of a young and mobile attacker Moyes wants to bring to the London Stadium. 

Having said that, West Ham completing a free transfer for Ryan Fraser in the summer would be a shrewd piece of business.