Why West Ham should make a move for Nemanja Maksimovic
Back in January, the Daily Mail had claimed that West Ham were interested in signing Getafe midfielder Nemanja Maksimovic. However, no move happened during the winter transfer window.
Nemanja Maksimovic, 25, made his name with Domzale in Slovenia and Astana in Kazakhstan that earned him a move to Valencia in 2017. But he struggled to get into Valencia’s XI and managed only 15 appearances in his debut season.
Having failed to live up to the expectations at the Mestalla Stadium, the Serbian international joined Getafe in the summer of 2018. Maksimovic enjoyed a solid debut campaign at Getafe as he played 36 times in the La Liga.
The defensive midfielder has been able to replicate his form in the current campaign, racking up 31 appearances across all competitions. The 25-year-old’s performances did catch West Ham’s attention and while they failed to sign him during January, the Premier League outfit must revive their interest in him when the transfer window opens.
West Ham have endured a torrid 2019/20 season so far, with the East London outfit currently 16th in the table. David Moyes and co. now have nine more games to save themselves before anything worse happens. Overall, the Hammers have shortcomings in certain areas of the pitch and Moyes must address it over the summer transfer window.
One area the Scotsman should prioritise reinforcing is the midfield, even after signing Tomas Soucek on loan in January. Declan Rice has impressed with his performances since the last 18 months or so.
Mark Noble will turn 33 in May and is entering the twilight of his career, while Carlos Sanchez has been out of favour. Jack Wilshere continues to struggle for fitness, with the midfielder playing only six times in the Premier League this term.
Moreover, West Ham sold Pedro Obiang to Sassuolo in the summer but failed to bring in a replacement at that time. Considering the fact that Noble is ageing and Sanchez has entered the final few months of his current contract, Moyes should look to sign Nemanja Maksimovic.
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Maksimovic is a defensive midfielder by trade and acts as a shield in front of the back four. He has made 71 appearances for Getafe in all competitions after joining from Valencia in the summer of 2018. He’s also earned 19 caps for the Serbian national team. The 25-year-old has proven to be a reliable player for Getafe and would certainly boost Moyes’ options in midfield.
Verdict
At the age of 25, the Serbian international is at the right age to test himself in the Premier League. There are chances of Maksimovic establishing himself at a higher level under the guidance of Moyes. Hence, West Ham must secure the player’s services in a bid to solve their midfield conundrum.
