Why West Ham could deliver a real statement of intent if they sign Moussa Marega
West Ham United have held talks with Mali’s FC Porto striker Moussa Marega for a potential deal worth £22m. The striker has been linked with other Premier League clubs like Chelsea and Tottenham before but no move materialised.
The Hammers under new manager Manuel Pellegrini have done pretty well to get quality players this summer. They have not only upgraded the standards of their squad but have also bought players who can make a significant difference to the playing style.
On top of that, if they get a striker like Marega up top, it’d be an icing on the cake. The Malian, who had a fantastic last season in terms of scoring goals, would also be looking forward to playing in the Premier League.
Here’s everything you need to know about the player and why West Ham would do well to sign the player this summer:
Player Analysis – Moussa Marega
Age – 27
Main Position – Striker, Right-side Forward
Marega’s height (186cm) and stature allow him to physically dominate centre-backs in the air and also shrug off defenders when on the ball. He is one of the lethal finishers in front of goal as far as the Portuguese League is concerned.
The Malian netted 22 goals from 29 league appearances, which shows his ruthlessness when it comes to scoring.
The 27-year-old can win aerial duels, at a rate of 1.2 per game, which helps in attacking and defending set-pieces. He also can dribble past defenders in tight spaces, at an average of 1.4, to open up the room for a shot on goal.
Marega has raw pace and is very direct on the ball, a lethal combination to have in counter-attacking situations. One must not leave him unmarked with open spaces ahead of him, as he has the ‘shoot on sight’ ability which generally tests goalkeepers’ shot-stopping capabilities.
Read More: Time for goodbye? West Ham must let go of this £10m David Moyes signing this summer
Verdict
West Ham already have the likes of Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez to lead the line, however, if they get a ruthless striker like Marega, the creative department will be quite pleased. It is always better to have more options of higher quality to generate competition for places.
Getting the Malian would stir Arnautovic and Hernandez to work even harder for their chances up front.
Stats Courtesy – Whoscored.com