West Ham United continue to be linked with Graziano Pelle but, according to Emile Heskey, it would make little sense to bring the 35-year-old free agent back to the Premier League.
As soon as David Moyes returned for a second spell at the London Stadium 12 months ago, the writing was on the wall for Sebastien Haller.
The Scot demands blood, sweat and tears, not to mention a healthy supply of goals, from his first-choice number nine.
With that in mind, the languid, often lethargic Haller always felt like a bad fit. And so it proved.
After just ten goals in 48 Premier League appearances, the gifted yet increasingly haunted Haller swapped West Ham for Ajax in a cut-price £20 million deal last week.
But while Heskey was never Haller’s biggest fan, he does not see much sense in signing a 35-year-old to fill the void (Tuttomercatoweb).
“Haller is 26 years old and you’d be taking a 35-year-old who, yes, has done it in the Premier League but has been playing in China,” Heskey says of Pelle, who’s £260,000-a-week contract at Shandong Luneng expired at the end of December.
“If they can get Michail Antonio fit, would you need (Pelle)? Antonio has done a fantastic job, he’s played everywhere and been the best player in every position.
“Now he’s up front and he’s scoring goals, he’s holding up the ball, bringing players into play, he’s flicking the ball on and winning his own flick-ons! I can’t talk more highly of the guy.
“If you’re going to bring anyone in, are you going to bring in a 35-year-old to give you six months to a year of service? Or should you be looking at someone who can bring you five to ten years?”
Pelle scored a respectable 23 top-flight goals in two years at Southampton but, as Heskey himself points out, it is five years now since the former Italy international swapped the South Coast for China.
Then again, perhaps Pelle would be willing to sign a short-term deal until the summer, giving West Ham time to make progress towards a younger, more long-term option – an Abdallah Sima, an Adam Hlozek, or even a Luka Jovic.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
