Why Moussa Marega to West Ham would bolster their attack

According to The Express, West Ham are interested in signing FC Porto star Moussa Marega ahead of the new campaign.

The report suggests that Marega turned down a new contract with the Portuguese outfit and could become a free agent next summer. And the Hammer boss David Moyes is looking for a possible deal to take place.

Profile

Born in France, Marega came through the ranks of Evry’s youth system and played for clubs like Amiens SC and Esperance before moving to Portugal in February 2015. He joined Maritimo, where he impressed with 15 goals and 8 assists in 34 games before joining FC Porto the next year.

Though he was initially sent on loan to Vitoria Guimaraes, he returned to establish himself as a key member of Porto’s squad. The Malian has helped his side lift two league titles and one Portuguese Cup title.

In 145 games for the Portuguese giants, Marega has scored a whopping 60 goals, while he has also provided 28 assists to date. He has also been capped 24 times by his nation so far.

Marega could lead West Ham’s attack

Moyes’ men were inconsistent throughout last campaign and endured another poor season in the top-flight. And it is clear that the manager needs to bring in reinforcements to the squad ahead of the new season if they are to lift themselves and do better in further campaigns.

One key area where the manager should focus on strengthening is the centre-forward position. Sebastien Haller was expected to lead the attack but the Frenchman failed to live up to the expectations and went on to miss the majority of the campaign due to injury.

Michail Antonio did well towards the end of last season and his goals ensured West Ham retained their top-flight status. However, they need to add depth to their attacking unit after deciding to sell Albian Ajeti to Celtic a few weeks back.

In that regard, Marega would be a smart addition to the squad. The Malian has been in sensational form and has been consistent in the last three seasons, where he scored more than 10 goals in each of the campaigns. He scored 15 goals in all competitions last season and has gone from strength to strength.

Given his consistency, he could lead the Hammers’ attack and could provide competition to the likes of Haller and Antonio. Moreover, his inclusion would also add depth to the squad. And Marega could be a key player next season if he is able to replicate the same form.

Read more

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Verdict

At 29, Marega has a few more years left to play at a higher level and his experience could come in handy for Moyes. He could also provide them with some much-needed extra goals throughout the campaign. Thus, signing the Malian would be a wise decision by the club.