BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 08: Josh Dasilva celebrates following his sides victory in the Sky Bet Championship match between Brentford and Middlesbrough at Griffin Park on February 08, 2020 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
According to The Guardian, West Ham are keeping tabs on Brentford midfielder Josh Dasilva ahead of the January transfer window. Hammers boss David Moyes is on the lookout for some fresh additions to his squad during the mid-season trading period and has identified the former Arsenal prospect as a potential target.
Dasilva rose through the youth ranks of Arsenal and made three first-team appearances, all in the EFL Cup, during the 2017-18 campaign. He was released at the end of the season after turning down a contract offer in North London and instead switched boats to join Brentford in the Championship.
The 22-year-old established himself as a key player at Griffin Park last term after playing a bit-part role in his debut season at the club. Dasilva bagged 10 goals and 4 assists in 45 appearances for the Bees in the Championship as Thomas Frank’s side reached the Playoff finals.
The highly-rated England U-21 international has continued to impress in the Championship this season, registering 2 goals and 3 assists in 22 appearances so far. Dasilva has also caught the eye in the EFL Cup and recently scored the winner against Newcastle United to propel Brentford to the semi-finals of the competition.
Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek have been the undisputed first-choice central midfielders for David Moyes this term. Both players have been in impressive form and have contributed greatly to the club’s promising start to the PL campaign. However, the lack of quality alternatives in the middle of the park remains a pressing concern for the manager.
Mark Noble has slipped down the pecking order after serving as one of the mainstays of the club’s midfield for the good part of a decade. He has made 8 appearances in the PL so far. But his lacklustre performances clearly suggest that he is well past his prime.
Noble is nearing his twilight at 33 and is out of contract next summer. So, West Ham need to line up some younger midfield alternatives to reduce the workload on Rice and Soucek.
Putting things into context, West Ham should not hesitate to take a punt on Josh Dasilva next month. The youngster has proven his worth as a goalscoring box-to-box midfielder at Brentford in the Championship.
Moyes has occasionally turned to Robert Snodgrass to play a midfield role. But like Noble, he isn’t a long-term option either. The veteran is also 33 and nearing the end of his contract in 2021. West Ham should, therefore, look at Josh Dasilva as a long-term investment with one eye on the future.
Dasilva’s heat map in the Championship this season clearly underlines his qualities as a tenacious and hardworking midfield enforcer. That he has contributed with goals and assists on a regular basis should make him a more appealing target for the Hammers.
It’s a no-brainer that West Ham have several squad depth issues to fix as far as their midfield is concerned. The departures of Jack Wilshere, Pedro Obiang and Carlos Sanchez in recent windows have robbed the Hammers of cover and quality in the middle. Having said that, a potential deal for Josh Dasilva should go a long way towards replenishing West Ham’s reserves.
The 22-year-old has been among the best-performing box-to-box operators in the Championship over the past 18 months. Given his age, he still has a lot of room for development. West Ham have had success with their raids on the Championship for Jarrod Bowen and Said Benrahma. That said. Dasilva could also go on to evolve into a key player at the London Stadium for several years to come.