Fresh from topping the Premier League list for the most expensive 'mascot experience', Hammers are earning another unenviable top of the pile listing, namely as the team with the most injuries to their first team squad. Although Pablo Zabaleta and Robert Snodgrass stand a decent chance of making the match day squad, the rest of the players on the list have a ways to go before even being considered for inclusion in to the first team, Fabian Balbuena, Javier Hernandez, Jack Wilshere, Ryan Fredericks, Andrily Yarmolenko, Carlos Sanchez, Winston Reid and Manuel Lanzini.
It seems as if Manuel Pellegrini is gong to have to bring a 'few bodies' in during the January window because of the sheer scale of injuries the club have sustained thus far in the season, one of the 'bodies' being considered is midfield enforcer Gary Medel, the Chile international played 34 times for Cardiff in the Premier League during the 2013/14 season but that is no reason to doubt his ability. Manuel Pellegrini is understood to be a big fan of Medel and wants to sign him to boost his midfield options for the second half of the season, Medel only joined Besiktas in 2017 and has been a key figure for them ever since but he is now keen to revisit the Premier League.
Besiktas have already rejected Hammers' initial £6.5 Million offer, but it is believd the two clubs are not too far apart from concluding a deal to take the 31 year old to the London Stadium, Medel has a reutation for being a 'bit of a ratter' not adverse to the odd harsh tackle. Medel's physicality would help shore up a potentially leaky midfield, at 31 years of age he is obviously not a long term solution, but needs must and at the moment West Ham need!
Premier League Injury table.
10 West Ham
08 Arsenal
07 Chelsea
07 Tottenham
05 Bournemouth
05 Liverpool
05 Manchester City
05 Manchester United
04 Burnley
04 Cardiff
04 Huddersfield
04 Newcastle
03 Southampton
03 Watford
02 Fulham
02 Leicester
02 Wolves
01 Brighton
01 Crystal Palace
01 Everton
