Premier League giants West Ham United have made an enquiry about the availability of Monaco’s Russia international Aleksandr Golovin, as reported by RB Sport.
With almost half of the transfer window consigned to memory already, West Ham are still chasing reinforcements at centre-half.
The Hammers could do with another left-back as well. A striker, one capable of easing the crushing burden of expectation on Michael Antonio’s muscular shoulders, would also be very well received.
One area where West Ham do not need new arrivals, however, is in attacking midfield.
Jarrod Bowen is in the form of his life, Manuel Lanzini can’t stop scoring while Nikola Vlasic produced perhaps his finest performance on English soil during Sunday’s 2-0 FA Cup victory over Leeds United.
And yes, Said Benrahma will be missed during the African Cup of Nations but Moyes has silky Spain international Pablo Fornals ready and willing to step into the breach.
Golovin, then, feels somewhat superfluous; like breaking the bank on a shiny new Samsung TV when you’ve got a perfectly good Sony at home.
Do West Ham actually need Aleksandr Golovin?
According to RB Sport, talks between West Ham and Monaco are yet to get underway. But the Hammers have started ‘collecting information’ about Golovin’s availability.
One of the stars of Russia’s memorable 2018 World Cup campaign, Golovin has struggled to live up to expectations since moving to the Principality from CSKA Moscow.
That has not stopped Monaco from demanding a sky-high fee of £39 million, however, a price-tag that appears to have put pay to any hopes Rafa Benitez had of luring his one-time Newcastle United target to Everton (The Athletic).
“He is a great footballer,” Everton legend Tim Cahill said of Golovin.
“After the 1-4 defeat to Liverpool (in December), it is clear that Everton needs good players. He could strengthen the team.”
According to The Athletic, Golovin turned down a move to West Ham before Euro 2020.
It remains to be seen, with the London giants transforming from relegation candidates into Champions League-chasers, whether he’d be more willing to consider their offer this time around.
But regardless of whether or not Golovin is keen to join, it’s worth considering whether the Russian would be worth the money or whether he’d be little more than an expensive back-up option.
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