West Ham Opinion: Why West Ham should make a summer swoop for Portu
According to a report from Spanish news outlet El Mundo Deportivo, Premier League duo West Ham and Brighton are interested in Girona star, Portu.
Portu, 27, was one of the rare bright sparks in a miserable season for Girona, who finished 18th in the La Liga table. He formed a strong partnership with Cristhian Stuani, scoring nine goals in 34 appearances.
And the Spanish forward’s exploits seem to have caught the attention of West Ham and Brighton, while Villarreal and Celta Vigo are also keen to lure him away from the Montilivi. The 27-year-old has an £8.8 million price-tag on his head, the report adds.
That being said, West Ham must do everything in their powers to sign Portu from relegated Girona this summer.
West Ham have already allowed the likes of Andy Carroll, Samir Nasri and Adrian to leave on a free transfer this month. The BBC claim the Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini is also willing to offload strikers Lucas Perez and Javier Hernandez from the books. Should Hernandez and Perez leave the London stadium this summer, Pellegrini will need to at least sign two attacking players.
The Hammers have already made their first summer signing, with goalkeeper Roberto joining on a two-year deal on a free transfer when his contract with La Liga club Espanyol expires. After addressing the goalkeeping department, Pellegrini should shift his focus on bolstering his attacking options ahead of the new season.
Portu would be a smart fit at West Ham. In his 34 league games for Girona this term, the 27-year-old has played in a variety of positions – including right-wing and as a second-striker – and supplied nine goals and three assists. That means Pellegrini will get quite a flexible player in Portu if he manages to land him at the London stadium.
The diminutive Spaniard is quick when running with the ball and can be a force to be reckoned with in the opposition half. He can make penetrative dribbles at high speed in the opposition half, making him a nightmare for the defenders. Despite his slight frame, Portu boasts excellent strength as well as balance when in possession of the ball.
Furthermore, the former Valencia man is also a potent goal-threat from long range as he can strike the ball with immense power and precision.
Verdict
The addition of a player of Portu’s creative skills will undoubtedly improve Pellegrini’s attacking options at West Ham. He will not only add more quality to the Hammers’ first-team but will also bolster their overall squad depth.
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Thus, it will be a shrewd move for Pellegrini to bring the Girona star to the London Stadium ahead of the new season.
