Why West Ham should take a gamble on Junior Caicara
According to The Sun, West Ham are tracking Istanbul Basaksehir star Junior Caicara in a bid to bolster their backline ahead of the next season.
The report suggests that the Brazilian is valued at £3m but the Hammers could face competition to secure his services. Premier League rivals West Brom and Russian outfit Zenit St. Petersburg are also keen on signing Caicara this summer.
Profile
Born in Brazil, Caicara began his journey with Santa Andre’s youth system before going out on different loan spells to CSA, America Futebol Clube and Portuguese outfit Gil Vincente. He was then signed by Ludogorets in the summer of 2012 and made 129 appearances for the Bulgarian Champions in three years, helping them to 3 efbet Liga titles and three Bulgarian Super Cups.
He then made 41 appearances for Schalke before joining Turkish outfit Basaksehir in January 2017. Since then, he has been an integral member of the squad. He played a crucial role in the club’s title-winning 2019/20 campaign.
However, with just one year left on his contract with the Turkish champions, Caicara could make a move elsewhere and West ham should pounce at the chance to sign him.
Why West Ham need Caicara
The Hammers managed to secure their top-flight status in the penultimate game of the season after a draw against Manchester United. However, David Moyes’ men had been inconsistent throughout the campaign. And the need for improvement in the squad has been highlighted.
At the moment, there is only one established right-back in the squad. Ryan Fredericks made 27 appearances in the league this season but has run out of backups. Pablo Zabaleta exited the club last month when his contract came to an end. Youngster Jeremy Ngakia also left after refusing to extend his stay at the London Stadium.
Thus, they need to bring in a right-back in the summer and Caicara would be a viable option for the club. The Brazilian managed to provide 7 assists in 44 games across all competitions for the Turkish outfit this season and was one of their best players.
Though his numbers may not be the best, his inclusion would provide West Ham with some much-needed depth at the back. He would also bring in healthy competition for Fredericks.
Caicara has already made 382 career appearances and his experience would also come in handy for the club, which has run of options on the right side of the defence. He is also capable of operating in midfield, providing Moyes with added options.
Read more
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Verdict
With the exits of Zabaleta and Ngakia, the Hammers have limited options on the right side of defence. Thus, they should attempt to lure the Brazilian and take a chance with him. It can pay off well if he is able to replicate the same form he has shown in recent years.
