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On Loan Slimani Instead Of Full Contract Smolov?

nevillenixon's picture
Submitted by nevillenixon on Wed, 31/01/2018 - 10:35

Fyodor Mikhaylovich Smolov is a Russian footballer who plays as a striker for Krasnodar, depending on which media outlet you use he is either super keen to ploy his trade in the Premier League with West Ham United at the 'iconic' London Stadium, or is super wary of joining a team that looks destined to struggle for the rest of the season with relegation a distinct possibility at the 'ironic' London Stadium. There is also the issue of Smolov being an untried player in the Premier League and the fact that Hammers would prefer to take the player on loan for the rest of the season whereas Krasnodar want a full sale at seems like a bargain £12 Million. Perhaps Smolov's words were not chosen wisely or were lost in translation when he said he would like to give it ( the Premier League) a go, it appeared that he didn't care about the destination more so the journey. Maybe that 'llaissez faire' attitude didn't go down well with Sergeant Moyes and Corporal Pearce!

With Diafra Sakho having already left the club earlier this week and Andre Ayew poised to return to Swansea in a near £20 Million deal, David Moyes will be left 'down to the bare 'arry's' when it comes to strikers, as Andy Carroll is out for the rest of the season and Marko Arnautovic will be out for a further three weeks at least. The unhappy Javier Hernandez is the only fit recognised striker left at Moyes' disposal and if a massive bid came in for him in the next few hours he could be off as well!

So the news that West Ham have begun negotiations to bring Islam Slimani from the King Power to the London Stadium will come as no surprise, of course the club are trying to do it on the cheap by offering to take the Algeria International who has struggled to start ahead of Jamie Vardy ever since he joined Leicester in a club record £29 Million deal in the summer of 2016 on loan. Leicester will want a massive loan fee and 100% of the striker's wages paid, in return West Ham get a player who has made 17 appearances in all competitions for the Foxes this season, scoring five goals but he has only made two starts in the Premier League.

Perhaps Slimani is yet another player burdened by such a high transfer price, his previous goal record for Sporting Lisbon (57 in 111 games) and his goals ratio for Algeria (26 in 55) shows that he knows where the back of the net is, the benefits of a high fee player changing environments has already started to reap rewards for West Ham with the signing of 'Super' Mario who has slotted right in to David Moyes' team since his arrival on loan from Inter Milan.

Of course, Slimani is a player in demand, yet again a good player doesn't become bad over night, Newcastle were in the running for Slimani's serviced but it is unlikely they can match Hammers' offer. Even if Slimani does arrive at the London Stadium there is still room for another forward, so why don't the Hammers hierarchy go for two and bring in Smolov? If he's a flop he can be sold on at little or no loss, and he would present a different option for David Moyes who has seen his painfully thin squad decimated, with an entire first team minus the goal keeper unavailable through injury.

Extra bodies are definitely needed, and it is assumed that Reece Oxford will not be sent back to ze Germans but retained for the rest of the season to 'plug up the gaps' that will almost undoubtedly need filling during the rest of the season given Hammers atrocious injury history.

The next few hours are crucial to West Ham's season, and more so their survival in the Barclays Premier League, come on David get your cheque book out, you know it makes sense! - Ed

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cast iron's picture

Cant see any point in buying Slimani we need strikers that hit the ground running not players that are injured. Scherler deal is still on, like to see him, and he has Prem experience. Whats the point of buying Slimani when all players will be coming back. Well I say "all" I mean Anautovic that's why we should get Smolav on loan as was said earlier if he is no good, we can sell him back you will see no shortage of Russian clubs that will bid for him, makes much more sense than buying someone like Peller from China who has no sell on value whatsoever. If Oxford goes like to see a replacement for him perhaps another loan still don't know if the other 2 are going back to Bolton. All will be revealed 11 o'clock tonight, just hope we are lucky and get a good window.

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nevillenixon's picture

Well the Slimani deal is off now as he's gone to the Toon, his injury played a lot in Hammers not pursuing his services with fervor me thinks.

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cast iron's picture

Just reading that the Russian transfer window dont shut till the 22/02 so we got a bit of time to get players and still get Smolav. On the other hand, the German window closes at 5 PM so if Oxford is going back to Germany we should hear shortly if he goes back then a decision will be made with Dendonker

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cast iron's picture

Don't know how that works, just hope G&S do plenty of Russian around to get us a few players think Smolav, Schurler and Dendonker would be a good bit of business even if Oxford and Ayew does go

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