West Ham United dodged a January transfer bullet, as Steve Nicol has told ESPN that Dan-Axel Zagadou producd a ‘shocker’ in Rangers’ Europa League win over Borussia Dortmund.
The Gers stunned the Bundesliga giants away in Germany on Thursday evening to win their knockout round play-off first-leg 4-2. Zagadou was at fault for two of the Premiership side’s goals at the Westfalenstadion, having conceded a penalty and turned in a late own goal.
His mistakes gifted Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side a chance to take the lead from the spot and win by two. James Tavernier made no mistake with their first-half penalty to break the deadlock. While Zagadou’s own goal killed BVB’s momentum and hope of a late comeback.
Clement Turpin awarded Rangers’ penalty in the 38th-minute after consulting with the VAR when Borussia Dortmund’s Zagadou handled the ball. A VAR check in the 53rd-minute also showed the 22-year-old had turned Alfredo Morelos’ cross into his own net to make it 4-1.
Nicol slams West Ham target Zagadou for ‘shocker’ in Borussia Dortmund defeat
Ex-Liverpool and Scotland man Steve Nicol tore into Zagadou after Rangers beat Borussia Dortmund for the reported West Ham transfer target’s role in the Europa League result.
“Zagadou had an absolute shocker,” Nicol said. “He was a little unfortunate, but he does give the penalty away and Tavernier puts it away, 1-0 thank you very much.”
Nicol slamming Zagadou’s Europa League efforts against Rangers hints West Ham dodged a bullet by not signing the Borussia Dortmund defender during the January transfer window.
Reports by L’Equipe cited Zagadou as an option David Moyes was considering after injuries for Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma. The Irons were one of several sides considering the Frenchman as he is out of contract at the end of the season, but is discussing a new deal.
Zagadou would have given West Ham a left-sided centre-half to replace Ogbonna, with Issa Diop preferring the right-hand role. But the former France U21 international wasted a shot to show Moyes what he passed up on by struggling on a big European night for Dortmund.
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