West Ham Opinion: Gary Cahill would be a massive coup for the Hammers
According to the Mirror, West Ham have reignited their interest in Chelsea defender Gary Cahill and the Hammers are likely to move for the 33-year-old former England international once his contract at Stamford Bridge expires at the end of the season.
Cahill has been frozen out of the first-team picture by manager Maurizio Sarri and has played a ridiculously low 21 minutes of Premier League football this season, with the Italian preferring Antonio Rudiger and David Luiz at the heart of the defence. The veteran has been used sporadically in the current campaign, with most of his involvement coming in the Europa League and domestic cup competitions.
The Englishman made his move to Stamford Bridge in 2012 from Bolton Wanderers and has enjoyed a trophy-laden spell at Chelsea, including two Premier League titles, two FA Cups and also the Champions League.
Cahill is set to be one of the most high-profile free agents at the end of the season and there should be no shortage of potential suitors for his signature, considering his experience and quality.
The 33-year-old has made a total of 513 senior competitive appearances in all competitions for the likes of Burnley, Sheffield United, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Bolton, with 348 of those coming in the Premier League. He also boasts of an impressive goal tally for a central defender, having found the net on 27 occasions in the Premier League.
To put things into perspective, the acquisition of a player of Cahill’s calibre for absolutely nothing would be a massive coup for West Ham, though the Hammers would have to do really well to beat off competition from other clubs.
The Mirror has pointed out in the report that Cahill wants to play regular first-team football in the Premier League next season and it should be a pleasure for the east Londoners to meet his demands.
West Ham spent a fortune in the transfer window last summer and it is unlikely that Manuel Pellegrini would be handed such a huge transfer budget once again, which should prompt the manager to look for bargain deals and complete some smart signings.
Given that the Hammers haven’t looked too secure at the back in the Premier League this season, someone like Cahill might just be the missing block in the jigsaw puzzle, as Pellegrini looks to build a squad capable of challenging for a Europa League spot.
The Englishman has loads of Champions League experience and getting him on board in the summer would help the manager sort out his problems at the back.
Issa Diop has been a standout figure for the Hammers at the heart of the defence this term since his big-money arrival from Toulouse last summer. However, fellow summer recruit Fabian Balbuena, though impressive at times, has struggled to cope with the pressure of having to deliver the goods week in and week out.
Angelo Ogbonna has enjoyed a prolonged run in the first-team in recent months but the Italian has proven himself to be too error-prone, while Winston Reid apparently has no future at the club.
Suffice to say, the Hammers need to overhaul their defensive options and Cahill perfectly fits the bill.
Cahill’s experience at the highest level combined with his good understanding of the game and supreme aerial ability should make him a wonderful fit for a club like West Ham, and his presence might as well bring the best out of Issa Diop.
He is a calm and composed defender who can add that steel and reliability to a backline that has often crumbled under pressure this season.
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Cahill might be 33 but he still has plenty to offer at the highest level and West Ham can do themselves a world of good by snapping him up in the summer.
