West Ham Opinion: Stanislav Lobotka could add that much-needed stability and cohesiveness to the Hammers midfield
According to Daily Star, West Ham are interested in signing Slovakian international midfielder Stanislav Lobotka from La Liga outfit Celta Vigo this summer, with reports claiming that a new central midfielder is on manager Manuel Pellegrini’s wishlist for the summer.
Lobotka is not the only Celta Vigo player to have been linked with a move to East London, though, with Uruguayan international striker Maxi Gomez also very much on the Hammers radar. (h/t Daily Star)
West Ham are also exploring the possibility of signing Barcelona loanee Andre Gomes, who spent this past season on loan at Everton, whilst Olympiacos midfielder Konstantinos Fortounis has also been lined up as a potential target. (h/t Daily Star)
Lobotka made 31 appearances in the La Liga this past season, as Celta Vigo finished 17th in the standings and narrowly beat the drop. The 24-year-old was one of the key driving forces behind the club’s bid for survival in the Spanish top-flight, proving himself to be an indispensable presence in central midfield for manager Fran Escriba.
A youth product of Slovakian club AS Trencin, Lobotka rose to prominence with his boyhood club and made 84 appearances in all competitions over the course of four seasons before shifting bases to Denmark with Nordsjaelland.
Following a good run of form in the Danish top-flight, the 24-year-old was snapped up by Celta Vigo back in the summer of 2017 and his stocks have been on the rise ever since.
Stanislav Lobotka made an immediate impact in Spain and established himself as one of the most efficient in his deep midfield position. One of the key cogs of Celta’s midfield, the Slovak has racked up a total of 73 appearances for the La Liga outfit in all competitions over the course of two seasons.
Essentially a defensive midfielder by trade, Lobotka is noted for his tough-tackling and energetic presence in the middle of the park, whilst also possessing the range of passing to hold things together for his team.
A tenacious and hardworking central midfielder with plenty of drive, determination and high levels of stamina, Lobotka is one of the best in the La Liga when it comes to calmness and composure in possession and work-rate on and off the ball.
Known for his positional sense and tactical maturity, Lobotka is adept at dealing with the transitions in play and often plays the role of a ball-carrier in central midfield, whilst also cutting out attacks with crucial interventions.
The 24-year-old boasts of a eye-watering pass success rate of 89.2 in the La Liga, including 1 tackle, 1 dribble and 0.6 key passes per game, figures which are really impressive for a defensive midfielder.
To put things into perspective, Lobotka doesn’t offer much in terms of attack but he could prove to be a wonderful addition to West Ham’s ranks this summer. The Hammers are in the market for a new central midfielder and the Slovak, with his wealth of La Liga experience, certainly fits the bill.
West Ham are set for a massive clear-out of players this summer, and with the likes of Javier Hernandez, Andy Carroll and Lucas Perez all likely to head for the exit door, a new centre-forward to complement Marko Arnautovic should be high on Pellegrini’s recruitment list.
However, central midfield is another area which is also in need of some investment, with the likes of Carlos Sanchez and Pedro Obiang failing to make an impression.
Lobotka, 24, is about to enter his prime years and he could prove to be a good partner for youngster Declan Rice, who enjoyed a wonderful run in the first-team this past season. Also, his reliable presence in the middle could go a long way towards getting the best out of more creative midfielders like Manuel Lanzini and Jack Wilshere.
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All in all, Lobotka would add a lot to West Ham’s midfield in terms of stability and cohesiveness and he might just prove to be the missing link in their midfield, as Pellegrini looks to challenge for a Europa League spot next season.
