Premier League West Ham United are reportedly interested in signing Adama Traore and Ben Gibson from Championship side Middlesbrough.
Middlesbrough’s failure to secure a return to the Premier League has not passed West Ham United by.
Gibson is one of the finest defenders outside the Premier League but has proven himself in the top flight, too. He was arguably Middlesbrough’s best player in the 2016/17 season and was even rewarded with a call-up to the England squad in May last year.
As reported by the Yorkshire Post, the Middlesbrough captain is valued at around £25 million. That, remarkably, is about £5 million less than the club believe Traore is worth, according to the Mirror.
The former Barcelona youngster has always had huge potential and has now started to add end product to his remarkable pace, scoring five goals and assisting 15 last season.
But will West Ham really pay a fee of £50 million-plus for two players from the Championship? Gibson and Traore would add depth to the Hammers’ squad, but the jury certainly remains out on whether they would even be regular starters?
Would Gibson get in ahead of Declan Rice, Angelo Ogbonna or a fully fit Winston Reid? The same questions can be asked of Traore, who would have the likes of Michail Antonio and Marko Arnautovic to contend with. And, if his wasteful display in the play-off semi-final against Aston Villa shows, Traore is still a long way from the finished product.
In short, there is far greater value on the market. West Ham can sign a better defender for £25 million and a better winger for £30 million.
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