West Ham United would be the ideal move for Manchester City benchwarmer Oleksandr Zinchenko, former Hammers hero Trevor Sinclair has told talkSPORT (23 December, 12.45pm).
While the Ukraine international played his part during City’s 4-1 EFL Cup quarter-final thrashing of Arsenal, it was a rare outing for a player who has slipped down the pecking order at the Etihad.
Once viewed as Pep Guardiola’s ‘man for all seasons’, Zinchenko has played only 12 minutes of Premier League football this season and six appearances overall, with Nathan Ake and Joao Cancelo keeping the versatile 24-year-old out of the City XI.
A January departure appears to suit all parties, with West Ham and Wolves offering Zinchenko the chance to play regular first-team football away from the north west (90Min).
And Sinclair, who represented West Ham and City during a storied playing career, feels the one-time PSV Eindhoven loanee could thrive at the London Stadium.
‘I think (joining West Ham) is a good move because (Zinchenko) wants to be the main man,” Sinclair says.
“He’s not getting the opportunity to play enough games. I actually think he’s undervalued at Man City. He has got better qualities (than he’s given credit for).”
Zinchenko made 14 appearances at full-back as Man City won the Premier League title in 2019.
The technically gifted left-footer plays in a more advanced, central midfield role for his country, however, and would give David Moyes plenty of options across the pitch.
“Certainly, with the style and formation West Ham play with (Arthur) Masuaku on the left, it would be good competition,” Sinclair adds.
“(Zinchenko has) got good flexibility. He could play in other positions.”
Man City were willing to sell for about £19 million last year.
It remains to be seen whether they would still demand such a sizeable fee for a player whose stock has fallen considerably during the past 12 months (Star).
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
