Why Pellegrini has struck gold with Xande Silva’s signing

Xande Silva of Vitória Guimarães SC B has signed for West Ham United. The London-based club have been busy in the transfer window and Silva is the latest player to join them. Xande Silva is a 21-year-old Portuguese attacker who plays for the reserve team of Vitória Guimarães SC. (Sky Sports)

Silva has become the 8th signing of the summer for the Hammers, who have already spent a lot on signing 7 different players in the transfer window.

Let’s analyze why signing Xande is a good move by Pellegrini and how the player could prove to be important for West Ham.

West Ham need Xande Silva to replace Lanzini

Primarily a second striker, Silva can operate across various attacking positions. He can play as an attacking midfielder and as the striker. The long-term injury to Manuel Lanzini will curtail West Ham’s flair but Silva is a player who can make up for that.

The Portuguese player is known for his devastating pace and acceleration and coupled with his dribbling ability, he truly seems like a nightmarish prospect for opposition defenders.

Xande’s versatility will help Pellegrini adjust his tactics whenever needed over the course of a game. Understandably, coaches always love players who can be utilized in different roles depending and the West Ham United boss should be no different.

Xande will provivde a new dimension

West Ham have two recognized strikers in Javier Hernandez and Andy Carroll but Silva will certainly boost the club’s depth to a great extent. Carroll, who is a static target man, might not fit the Chilean coach’s philosophy since he likes to play an attacking brand of passing football.

Meanwhile, Chicharito is a live wire and he could be useful for Pellegrini but he is a poacher by nature.

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To that end, Xande will be the perfect attacker for West Ham as he is adept at creating chances along with finishing attacking moves into goals. The player’s quality off the ball can trouble opposition defenders. Hence, signing him is nothing short of a coup for West Ham, who must fight to regain their lost glory next season.