As campaigns go, West Ham United’s 2021/22 has so far been up there with one of the most impressive in the club’s history.
Indeed, the Hammers’ 2-1 victory over Everton on Sunday ensured that, with just seven Premier League fixtures left to play, David Moyes’ side are still well in contention to secure a top-four finish in the league – currently sitting just three points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
Meanwhile, the Irons have also qualified for the quarter-finals of this season’s Europa League, in which they face Ligue 1 side, Lyon, in the first leg of the last-eight tie on Thursday, while the east London outfit also made it to the fifth round of the FA Cup and the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
However, despite this impressive showing across the board, there is still much work to be done in the summer transfer window if West Ham wish to continue their ascent to joining the elite next season – with a number of positions in Moyes’ first-team squad requiring much greater depth or upgrading upon current options.
One such position is central midfield, with Mark Noble retiring at the end of 21/22 and the £24k-per-week Alex Kral having failed to impress during his season-long loan at the London Stadium – with it being reported the Hammers will not be taking up their option to buy the 23-year-old.
And, with it being recently reported that Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans – a player the Irons have been linked with previously – looks as if he will be available to sign for just £25m this summer, the Belgium international would appear to be a perfect candidate to help revolutionise Moyes’ middle-order.
Indeed, Noel Whelan recently stated his belief that the £49.5m-rated maestro would make a fantastic addition to West Ham’s midfield, as, when asked whether the east London side could pull a deal off the Foxes sensation, the pundit said: “I think they could.
“He’s got everything, hasn’t he? Goals from outside the box, creativity, works hard, dictates the game, very competitive. And he’s at a good age – the best is yet to come.
“Leicester will be forced to let him go because players like Tielemans deserve to be playing in Europe. If West Ham could offer him that, then him joining really would not surprise me.”
It’s not difficult to understand why the former Leeds United forward feels this way, as the 24-year-old has proven something of a revelation since his £40m permanent move to the King Power back in 2019.
Indeed, over his 23 Premier League appearances this season, the £120k-per-week dynamo has been influential for Brendan Rodgers’ side, scoring six goals, registering two assists and creating four big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of two shots and making 1.3 key passes per game.
The player who Carol Radull dubbed “out of this world” has also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, making an average of 0.7 interceptions, 2.1 tackles, 1.4 clearances, 43 passes and winning 4.9 duels – at a success rate of 52% – per fixture.
These returns have seen the Belgian average a quite remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.18, ranking him as the Foxes’ joint-best player in the top flight of English football so far this term.
As such, considering the fact it would cost just £8m more to sign Tielemans than it would the £17m Kral this summer – who Tom Clark dubbed “shocking” earlier this season – it is clear for all to see that the West Ham board simply must send the Czech Republic international back to his parent club this summer, before doing everything in their power to replace him with the Leicester City star.
AND in other news: Sold for £1.8m, now worth £9m: GSB had a WHU nightmare on “astonishing” £11k-p/w ace
