Sky Sports has reported that Sheffield United star John Fleck is on West Ham’s radar, with the Hammers trying to improve their squad in the January window.
So far, they’ve only brought in Samir Nasri for free and managed to keep star striker Marko Arnautovic at the club, but now Manuel Pellegrini and company want to add depth to their midfield. That combined with the fact that West Ham are hoping to get John Fleck for only around £4million would be helpful.
However, having spent heavily over the summer, the Hammers have been inconsistent of late, with losses to Burnley and Bournemouth, while they’ve managed wins against Arsenal and Southampton over the last month or so. That has posed a problem to their Europa League hopes and West Ham currently sits 11th in the Premier League, with no return from injury date fixed on three out of their five midfielders.
That’s exactly why John Fleck would be a great addition to their side, as they need depth but more importantly, they need someone who is competitive and is willing to work hard, something the 27-year-old has in spades. Not to mention he was Sheffield United’s Player of the Year last season which did see more than a few sides interested in a move over the summer. However, nothing materialized and Fleck ended up staying with the Blades.
Now that things have changed, the 27-year-old could easily be persuaded to make the climb from the Championship to the Premier League and join West Ham United, a side where he won’t be the biggest star anymore but instead will be given a chance to prove himself at the highest level. That combined with his versatility to play across the midfield line, and his composure on the ball could see him replace West Ham star, Mark Noble.
The two have a similar style of play but if Noble is the slower moving dictator of play, then Fleck is the high-octane and energetic star who makes himself a menace for defenders. That simply means that playing both stars together could help get the best out of everyone in West Ham’s team-sheet and once their players are back from injury, things should get interesting.
However, any move that needs to be made has to be done so before the deadline, otherwise, it makes no sense for either party. But if West Ham do get everything over the line before the deadline closes, then they would get a reliable star and at £4million, he would be a valuable buy.