Why West Ham should make a move for Ryan Manning
According to Football Insider (h/t The Pink Un), West Ham are interested in signing Queens Park Rangers star Ryan Manning in the summer.
Manning, 24, came through the ranks of Cregmore’s youth academy and joined Mervue United, where he spent a year, making 26 appearances before moving to Galway United. After spending three years with three different clubs, QPR finally signed him in January 2015.
In his first two seasons at Kiyan Prince Foundation stadium, he struggled for regular game time and was sent on loan to Rotherham United in order for him to gain confidence.
However, since the end of last season, he has been a regular member of the squad and has been impressive so far. His outstanding performances have also garnered the attention of several clubs including Norwich City and Watford, as per the report. He is also said to be available for less than £5m as he has entered the final year of his contract with the Superhoops.
Manning – A future left-back for West Ham
One key area which needs to be strengthened at West Ham is the full-back position. At the moment, only three full-backs are available at the manager’s disposal. Ryan Fredericks is the only available defender on the right side of the defence after Pablo Zabaleta and Jeremy Ngakia opted to move away from the club last month when their contracts expired.
On the left side of the defence, Aaron Cresswell has been the only regular starter. Congolese international Arthur Masuaku has not been a competition for Cresswell and hasn’t convinced the manager for a regular start. Thus, a left-back in the summer would definitely be helpful in adding depth to the squad.
In that regard, Manning would be a viable option for the club. He has been in tremendous form this season, helping his side finish in mid-table in the Championship. In the 39 league games he has featured, the Irishman has racked up 2 goals and 7 assists and is the club’s third-highest assist-provider.
His inclusion to Moyes’ squad would definitely bring healthy competition to Cresswell and this could favour the club. He is just 24 and could also go on to represent them in the future if he is able to replicate his good form.
Read more
- Why West Ham should make a permanent move for Tomas Soucek
- Why West Ham should revive their interest in Franck Kessie
Verdict
With limited full-back options, it is clear that West Ham are in need of numbers at the back. At the same time, Manning has shown immense potential and has the ability to succeed at a high level. He could provide them some much-needed depth and quality at left-back. Thus, the Hammers making move for the 24-year-old would be a smart decision by the club.
