With respective deals for Andy Carroll and with Tottenham Hotspur seemingly falling through, could West Ham and Emmanuel Adebayor solve each others’ problems?
Here’s one to consider, and it might just work out all round. With Sam Allardyce seemingly giving up on his long winded pursuit of Andy Carroll, it’s time he looked at other targets.
A fruitless sojourn around Europe has already proved largely unsuccessful for Big Sam, and with the season two weeks away he would be wise to look close to home in the Premier League for an alternative.
One of the league’s most dangerous, if at times controversial, strikers is available – and that man is Emmanuel Adebayor.
He was loaned to Tottenham last season, scoring an impressive 17 league goals in 32 starts. He may have his quirks but there is no denying his quality, and he would be a striker with the ability to turn the Hammers into contenders to even finish in the league’s top half.
An obvious concern to the chances of this deal is the financial implications, but just because Tottenham are being cautious, it doesn’t mean West Ham have to be. Spurs are unlikely to move for the Togo striker until Luka Modric’s future is sorted out, and as the days go by, him heading back to the Lane appears ever more unlikely.
Manchester City are desperate to get rid of him. It was reported they were asking for a £6 million fee, but as time goes on this figure is only going to creep downwards.
The important thing to consider here is the investment David Gold and Sullivan are ready to make for West Ham. They were ready to lay out big to sign Andy Carroll, and bringing in Adebayor would surely not work out more expensive.
If West Ham cannot afford to bring in Adebayor permanently, they may wish to consider bringing him in on loan for the season with a view to buy, but stumping up the majority of his wages.
This would keep Manchester City happy, and the player, who would not have to take a cut. His contract at City runs until 2014 and he is clearly keen to maximise his money, but a year on, City may be keener to buy him out of it when there is just one year remaining simply to get him off their books, but at present this would be too costly, even for City.
The striker may see West Ham as a step down considering 18 months ago he was playing for Real Madrid, but right now he has to be realistic about his options, and he doesn’t have many, save for sitting in City’s reserves.
If West Ham can come up with the right package, which suits them, Adebayor, and Manchester City, then it is a deal worth pursuing.
The Andy Carroll chase showed the club do have funds ready to commit if necessary, and Adebayor would be a further instant improvement to a side which already looks like it has the makings of being very capable this coming season.
Adebayor at West Ham, could you see it happening, or is it just too complicated financially?
image: © Jan Solo
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