Earlier this week, West Ham completed the signing of Samir Nasri following the Frenchman’s 18-month drug ban. The attacking midfielder has been training with the club and Manuel Pellegrini appears determined to give Nasri a chance to impress for the Hammers in competitive action – with some reports claiming he could even feature against Brighton due to an ever-growing injury list.
His signature is certainly a boost to the West Ham squad then, but considering the baggage that comes with Nasri, not to mention the fact the deal is reportedly worth £80k per-week, will the Irons’ mid-season swoop for actually prove beneficial?
Football FanCast look at the potential consequences of West Ham signing the former Arsenal & Manchester City star…
Felipe Anderson goes up another gear
Felipe Anderson is proving to be one of the Premier League’s shrewdest signings of the summer, but there’s still an inconsistency about the Brazilian, or at the very least a feeling he could be giving a little more. West Ham’s recent 2-1 win over Southampton was a prime example; Anderson scored both goals but was otherwise an incredibly quiet presence throughout the match.
While both are versatile attacking midfielders, Nasri’s preferred position is the same as Anderson’s – the left-hand side – and that extra dose of competition could be what pushes the former Lazio man to realise his full potential, knowing there is another wide player at the club talented enough for him to be hooked off for.
And during the occasions in which both are on the pitch, these two will love playing alongside each other. They’re both incredibly technical and creative talents, who could end up developing a real partnership if Pellegrini can fit both into the same starting XI.
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Javier Hernandez allowed to leave
Even if Nasri’s apparent £80k per week contract is largely based on appearance fees, it makes him one of the top-earning players at the club according to Spotrac and considering how many senior players are already on the books at West Ham, the club may need to offset that extra spend.
That could well come in the form of offloading Javier Hernandez, who allegedly takes home around £140k per week. He’s no doubt an important member of the squad, but isn’t guaranteed a starting berth and may even see less game-time now Nasri is signed as the creator could be preferred to playing two up front.
Real Betis and Sevilla are both interested in signing the Mexican international according to Marca, so if West Ham can balance the books and pick up a transfer fee in the process, the club’s hierarchy may deem it a necessary move to help finance Nasri’s contract.
Grady Diangana’s game-time takes a hit
Whenever new signings are made somebody’s game-time is inevitably affected and it could well be Grady Diangana this time around, especially if Pellegrini looks to get Anderson and Nasri in the same starting XI – which could well result in one switching flanks, or Robert Snodgrass moving over from a more central role to his traditional position of right midfield.
The 20-year-old looked like a real talent when he burst onto the scene earlier in the campaign, particularly impressing in a 4-2 win over Burnley, but has shown only limited progress since then and perhaps Premier League football has come a little too soon for the promising young winger.