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West Ham United are considering a move to sign Fabian Delph from Manchester City this summer, per Football Insider.
The Hammers are keen to sign the versatile star, who can play as a left-back or as a central midfielder, as they look to strengthen a squad that finished 10th in the Premier League in 2018-19.
Delph made just 11 appearances in the top-flight as City pipped Liverpool to the title by a point, but played a more significant role during 2017/18 as the Premier League champions’ emergency left-back, filling a void left by injured Frenchman Benjamin Mendy.
With manager Pep Guardiola seemingly ready to cash in on the former Aston Villa star and Manuel Pellegrini no doubt keen to build upon his first year in east London, should the Irons make a move for the England international during the summer transfer window?
Some of Football FanCast’s expert writers give their verdicts below!
Luke Glanville
“The acquisition of Delph would be a very smart one for West Ham United and they should definitely make it happen in the summer transfer window. Mark Noble is not getting any younger and Pedro Obiang is clearly not good enough to be his long-term replacement. Delph has played in the World Cup, Champions League and been involved in Guardiola’s incredible Manchester City team. His experience, then, would surely help Declan Rice’s development greatly.”
Matt Dawson
“Absolutely not. The last thing West Ham need is another player who is simply way past his use by date. Delph has shown this season that he’s not good enough and it’s an incredible surprise that he’s made it into the England squad for the Nations League. I imagine he’d demand a considerable wage packet too so this is a deal that the Hammers should be looking to avoid at all costs.”
Billy Meyers
“I don’t see why not. Delph is a reliable player who has shone in the past for Aston Villa. He is more than good enough for a club like West Ham and would be one of the Hammers’ better players if he signed. It would definitely be a smart signing; the acquisition of a serial silverware winner can only be a good thing for the Irons.”
Christy Malyan
“Wages would definitely worry me but I think this could be a very shrewd signing on the right terms. Delph is versatile, experienced, hardworking and defensively-minded – he could provide real balance and consistency to a West Ham team that has a knack of leaving itself far too open and struggles to deliver on the less glamorous occasions. In some ways he reminds me of Ashley Young – someone who has been a consummate professional at a big club for a long time – and while the Manchester United man has struggled throughout the most recent campaign, he’d enjoyed a real Indian summer in the 18 months previous. West Ham could be Delph’s renaissance”
