Are West Ham about to set an unwelcome new Premier League record with Patrice Evra signing?

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West Ham United have been linked with the signing of disgraced free agent Patrice Evra.

West Ham failed to do the kind of business expected by the club’s fans during the January transfer window.

David Moyes was only able to bring in Joao Mario on a short-term loan from Inter Milan and little known striker Jordan Hugill from Preston North End.

Since then the Hammers have sacked head of recruitment Tony Henry over alleged derogatory remarks about signing African players while the club’s fans are starting an uprising against owners David Sullivan and David Gold with a protest march planned next month.

Reports from the likes of Sky Sports claim West Ham are set to sign disgraced former Manchester United star Patrice Evra on a free transfer.

Evra, who worked with Moyes at Manchester United, was sacked by Marseille earlier this season and banned by UEFA following an altercation with a supporter.

The former France captain was sent off before Marseille’s Europa League defeat against Vitoria on November 2 last year, after lashing out at a supporter who Evra claimed was abusing him.

Evra’s ban only restricts his participation in UEFA competitions so he is free to play in the Premier League.

If West Ham do complete the signing of Evra, it would see West Ham add the finishing touch to what could be a record for the oldest defence in Premier League history.

Evra turns 37 this season and would join 34-year-old centre backs James Collins and Jose Fonte and 33-year-old Pablo Zabaleta in a defence also containing Angelo Ogbonna and Winston Reid who both turn 30 this season.

Those players alone have a combined age of just under 200 years with pace none of their fortes in an increasingly quick, physical and demanding Premier League.

Throw in either goalkeeper Adrian or Joe Hart – both 31 this season – and it pushes that combined age to nearly 230 years, surely one of the oldest in the history of the Premier League.

While there is a case for experience in a team, it is a worrying trend for supporters who were promised so much more on leaving their beloved Upton Park for the London Stadium two years ago.