Why West Ham must beat Fulham to sign Antonio Candreva in January
According to a report from Tuttomercatoweb, Fulham are interested in signing Inter Milan star Antonio Candreva in January.
Antonio Candreva, 31, moved to the San Siro from Lazio in the summer of 2016. However, he hasn’t been a regular for Inter this season as manager Luciano Spalletti has preferred Matteo Politano ahead of him on the right.
The report claims that Fulham will able to land the Italy international on a six-month loan with a view to a permanent deal next summer. Keeping Candreva’s situation at Inter in mind, West Ham must rival Fulham for the player’s signature in January.
West Ham have endured a stop-start season under Manuel Pellegrini. The Hammers have successfully managed to recover from a disappointing start to the 2018/19 campaign but given the quality of players around at the club, Pellegrini must at least aim for a top-10 finish.
The Londoners have key attacking players out injured, with Andriy Yarmolenko and Manuel Lanzini set to miss the festive period where games come thick and fast in the Premier League. The return of Andy Carroll and Jack Wilshere from injuries would surely be a boost for Pellegrini but the Chilean should aim to replace the injured Yarmolenko in January.
Yarmolenko arrived from Borussia Dortmund in the summer amidst a lot of fanfare, raising the expectations of the supporters. But the Hammers have lost the Ukrainian to a long-term injury, meaning Pellegrini is light on options when it comes to the wide areas.
And that’s where the signing of Antonio Candreva would make sense. Candreva would be a perfect player for West Ham if Pellegrini needs a short-term solution in the attack.
A right-footed player, the Italian’s versatility would make him a useful player for the Hammers. He can operate on either wing, as a no.10, in central midfield or as a false 9. Candreva’s ability to play centrally means that he could add creativity to the midfield trio in Pellegrini’s 4-3-3 system.
A dynamic, tenacious, physical and intelligent player, the 31-year-old was once known for his searing pace. Although he has lost some pace, his stamina, work rate and ability to play anywhere in the attack remain unrivalled. In addition to these attributes, Candreva possesses good technical ability, ball control and distribution skills.
After losing Yarmolenko to a long-term injury and with Lanzini out as well, West Ham have been lacking that one special player to make things happen out of nothing. Candreva could be that player, who would not only add quality and depth to the squad but also bring volumes of experience to the London Stadium.
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Hence, West Ham must do everything in their powers to beat Fulham to the signature of Candreva.