West Ham United are reportedly close to edging Premier League rivals Everton to Bundesliga right-back Daniel Opare, who has shone for Augsburg.
You can see why West Ham fans are a little concerned by the shock signing of free-agent Patrice Evra.
The Hammers brought in a number of experienced Premier League pros during the summer, only for the fans to discover that this was essentially code for over-the-hill has-beens whose best years are well behind them.
See Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta and, to a lesser extent, Javier Hernandez. Evra, a 36-year-old who was without a club after Marseille sacked him for kicking a fan, certainly falls into the same category.
Although at least the same cannot be said of the next full-back West Ham are expected to welcome to the London Stadium. As reported by Soka25, the Hammers are close to agreeing a deal for FC Augsburg right-back Daniel Opare, who has just six months left on his contract.
And, unlike Evra, his best years appear to be ahead of him. The Ghana international may have had previous spells at Real Madrid and Porto but he is in the form of his life in the Bundesliga, evidenced by the fact that he has been on the radar of a number of other English clubs of late.
Soka 25 claim that Everton are also keen on a player who, like current Toffees right-back Seamus Coleman, is renowned for his aggressive attacking bursts and constant energy on the flanks.
Yes, West Ham fans may point to the fact that Opare is another freebie signing, perhaps hinting once again at a lack of ambition from the under-fire owners.
But, on the other hand, he is an improving player and a signing not just for the immediate future but for the long-term as well.
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