What do Thilo Kehrer and Maxwel Cornet have in common? Apart from the fact that, come September, both players could be wearing the claret and blue of West Ham United, that is?
Well, it’s telling that, during Cornet’s unveiling at the Premier League outfit last week, ‘versatile’ was one of the first words to leave David Moyes’ mouth.
“He is a versatile player with good experience, both in the Premier League and in European football,” the Hammers boss said, via the BBC. “(Cornet) will add strength and quality to our squad.”
The £17.5 million Ivory Coast international scored an impressive nine goals while playing as a forward at Burnley last season. But in his final campaign at Lyon, Cornet operated largely as an attack-minded left-back. He can also fill in on the right wing, or through the middle if required.
Given the nature of West Ham’s rather thin squad – and with European commitments once again clogging up the fixture list – players of Cornet’s adaptability could be worth their weight in gold.
And this is where Thilo Kehrer comes in.
Could Thilo Kehrer join Maxwel Cornet at West Ham United?
According to Sky Sports, West Have made an offer for Paris Saint-Germain’s 25-year-old Germany international on Tuesday. And, like Cornet, Kehrer would arrive at the London Stadium promising to add not just depth but durability to Moyes’ ranks.
“I can play both positions,” Kehrer told Kicker last year when asked if he prefers a role at centre-half or at full-back. “And I am also flexible in terms of the formation.
“I can operate on the right in a back four as well as on the right in a 3-4-3. But in the medium term, I think my strengths are best suited to playing in the central defence.”
“Thilo is a very committed player,” former PSG coach Thomas Tuchel said back in 2018. “Very professional. I like his personality. He already has a certain maturity as he’s captain of Germany’s Under-21 side.
“He’s quick, able to play in any of the four positions at the back, is two-footed, and can even play as a defensive midfielder. He’s the sort of player any coach would like to have.”
It remains to be seen how Moyes plans to utilise Kehrer, who joined PSG from Schalke for £33 million when he was just 21 years of age, presuming he does indeed swap Paris for London before September’s deadline. Ditto Cornet.
A three-man backline of Kehrer, Kurt Zouma and the left-footed Nayef Aguerd certainly looks impressive and nicely balanced on paper; Solid yet stylish in equal measure. Kehrer and Aguerd are natural ball-players, while Zouma is a more old-school defender; All blocks and beligerance. The trio appear to suit each other perfectly.
Goldilocks’ defence.
The arrivals of Kehrer and Cornet would allow Moyes to flit from a four to a three-man backline with ease, given their comfort in a variety of different roles. Kehrer could also play as a centre-back or full-back in a 4-2-3-1. Or, perhaps as a wing-back in a 3-5-2.
According to The Standard, Moyes also sees Cornet as a forward and a wing-back. His energy and speed makes him better suited to a box-to-box, chalk-treading role than ageing Aaron Cresswell. Ben Johnson has performed dutifully on the left when required too but he is more comfortable on the opposite flank.
Just to continue the theme, another player linked with a move to West Ham this week – Atalanta’s Teun Koopmeiners – ticks plenty of boxes as far as Moyes is concerned too. Physical and technical, Koopmeiners made his name as a deep-lying midfielder as the captain of AZ Alkmaar. But he is equally comfortable dropping into centre-half, dictating things from deep.
The left-footed Dutchman is another player who can thrive in a 4-2-3-1 or a 3-5-2.
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