Why Sean Morrison would be a smart signing for West Ham
According to the Daily Star (h/t Wales Online), West Ham are plotting a shock swoop for Cardiff City centre-back Sean Morrison as manager David Moyes looks to bolster his backline before the domestic deadline.
The Hammers failed to get deals over the line for any of their centre-back targets before the international deadline, having been linked with plenty of names throughout the summer. Moyes, though, remains determined to seek reinforcements in that department and has now identified Morrison as a potential target. (h/t Wales Online)
Swansea City graduate Joe Rodon is also very much on the club’s radar but London rivals Tottenham are currently leading the race to sign the Welsh international.
Profile
Sean Morrison started his footballing education at Plymouth Argyle and completed his development at Swindon Town before starting his professional career in League One. He went on to make 60 appearances for Swindon in all competitions, also spending time on loan at Southend United, before completing a move to Reading in January 2011.
The 29-year-old had two loan stints at Huddersfield Town in League One, the second of which resulted in the Terriers’ promotion to the Championship. Morrison caught the eye for Reading in the Premier League during the 2012-13 season that eventually ended in the club’s relegation from the top-flight.
Cardiff City came calling for Morrison’s services in the summer of 2014 and the Plymouth-born defender has since racked up a mammoth 242 appearances for the Bluebirds, registering 25 goals and 20 assists in the process.
Morrison would add more quality to West Ham’s backline
Well, the West Ham fans might not be thrilled or excited to learn about the club’s interest in Sean Morrison, considering that he’s already 29 and has largely plied his trade in the Championship so far.
Realistically though, the Cardiff City star could be a solid addition to shore up a Hammers backline that has cracked far too often under pressure over the past 12 months. West Ham conceded 62 goals in the PL last season and they certainly need to improve on those numbers to avoid another relegation scare this time around.
Morrison has long been regarded as one of the best defenders in the English second-tier while he has also shown in the past that he’s more than capable of keeping attackers at bay in the top-flight.
The 6ft 4in centre-back first made a positive impression for Reading in the Premier League back in 2012-13. He was one of the very few players to come away with some genuine credit from Cardiff City’s 2018-19 relegation campaign.
With 50 career appearances in the Premier League so far, the 29-year-old is certainly not a stranger to the level of competition in the English top-flight. Morrison ticks the box as a reliable figure with a lot of experience under his belt. He looks more than capable of competing with the likes of Angelo Ogbonna, Fabian Balbuena, and Issa Diop for a regular starting role at the London Stadium.
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Verdict
Indeed, Sean Morrison might not be the most exciting option for West Ham but he’s one of those defenders who know how to get the job done against top-quality opposition. The Cardiff man has the leadership skills to complement his physicality as a centre-back while his knack for goals and assists also adds to his overall value.
The 29-year-old still has plenty to offer at the highest level and it should be an absolute no-brainer for the Hammers to offer him a return to the Premier League before the deadline.
