Hammers Offered Deal That Matches Superb Balbuena Acquisition

Reports emanating from across the pond are suggesting New York Red Bulls defender Aaron Long has been offered to West Ham this summer, with the 26-year-old available for a bargain £4 Million. Long has been in fine form for the Red Bulls, making 83 league appearances across three campaigns with the Major League Soccer side. He also won the 2018 MLS Defender of the Year award.

Long is attracting plenty of attention with both Fiorentina and Lyon also interested in bringing him to Europe before the window closes, however the player would prefer testing himself in the Barclays Premier League. Long's release clause is extremely low by European standards but Hammers paid the same amount to trigger the release clause for Fabian Balbuena who turned out to be one of the bargains of the year not just for West Ham but for any club!

Balbuena went on to form a brilliant partnership alongside Issa Diop until it was interrupted by injury, Long arguably has the potential to be as shrewd a signing if the Irons do decide to meet his asking price. Manuel Pellegrini needs back up in central defence as Winston Reid cannot be relied upon to rekindle the form he had shown before a series of injuries that have kept him out of the side for nearly two seasons.

Either Angelo Ogbonna, Pedro Obiang or both are due to leave the club, so it is essential that another player is brought in, Pellegrini will not risk only having Reid as back up. Long fits the bill, he's relatively young and more importantly NOT injury prone, he would be a decent acquisition that won't break the bank. - Ed