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Manuel Pellegrini’s West Ham project is now well underway and the near £100m spent in the summer is looking wisely-spent, but there are still some improvements to be made and the Chilean should look to sign Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson next year.
What’s the word?
Well, the Hammers have spent big money on bolstering their attacking threat and defensive solidity, but the midfield old guard has more or less remained, with captain Mark Noble even receiving a contract extension last week. However, at 31, ‘Mr West Ham’ is entering his twilight years and cannot be relied upon too much longer, especially if Pellegrini wants to take the team up another notch.
Jack Wilshere was brought in on a free but has been unable to shake his reputation as being injury prone after an ankle injury recurred this month, despite the former Arsenal man undergoing surgery earlier in the season – fellow summer arrival Carlos Sanchez is out until April 2019 following knee surgery, meaning that the Irons are stretched thin.
Additionally, Declan Rice’s future at the London Stadium is still uncertain as David Gold and David Sullivan’s stance on a new contract remains firm. A new central-midfielder must be brought in soon if they want to cement a top half finish – Henderson is the perfect candidate.
Noble 2.0?
The 28-year-old has stepped up at Liverpool since Steven Gerrard’s retirement, but the timely emergence of summer signing Fabinho against Manchester United shows that his chances in the first team will become more limited – the Reds have a wealth of midfield options and Henderson will soon be very bottom, especially with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain returning in May.
The summer move for Fabinho is now looking like a stroke of genius from Jurgen Klopp, but it could spell the end of Henderson’s time at Anfield.
However, he would walk into West Ham’s starting XI and could easily take the armband from Noble when his legs run out. Indeed, the former Sunderland man works tirelessly, contributes in defence and exhibits extraordinary passion – Noble in a nutshell – but offers far more in terms of passing range and technical ability.
What do you think, West Ham fans? Would you like to see an ambitious move for Jordan Henderson? Let us know by voting in the poll below…