West Ham are reportedly set to sign Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta.
Manchester City’s Pablo Zabaleta celebrates
According to Tutto Mercato Web, Manchester City’s Pablo Zabaleta has agreed a three-year deal with West Ham United – but the Hammers may be repeating a January error.
Manager Slaven Bilic has endured problems at right back throughout this reign as West Ham manager, as Carl Jenkinson was injured and then returned to parent club Arsenal, whilst Alvaro Arbeloa has barely been seen since his August move to the London Stadium, and Sam Byram has yet to prove himself in the Premier League.
The likes of Cheikhou Kouyate, Havard Nordtveit and Michail Antonio have all been forced to play at either right back or right wing back as a result, and fans believe it’s time for the Hammers to sign a natural right back this summer.
Now, Tutto Mercato Web report that West Ham have all but tied up the signing of Manchester City’s Pablo Zabaleta, with the defender allegedly agreeing a three-year deal at the London Stadium.
Whilst Zabaleta, 32, provides vast experience and has won two Premier League titles, his potential signing could be somewhat similar to West Ham’s January addition Jose Fonte.
Fonte, 33, has struggled since joining West Ham from Southampton, with the centre back perceivably past his best at this age, and the Hammers investing in the defender could come back to haunt them after some awful performances so far.
West Ham United’s Jose Fonte in action
Zabaleta has been a solid servant for City since signing from Espanyol in 2008, but he has endured injury problems in recent years, and hasn’t played more than 30 Premier League games in each of the last three seasons.
Fonte’s lack of pace has seen him struggle so far, and West Ham fans will be concerned that Zabaleta will be more of the same in a defence that has creaked and leaked throughout this season.
The alleged three-year deal is a considerable commitment to a 32-year-old defender, and with Fonte struggling, Bilic and the Hammers have to be wary of making their defence even slower by adding Zabaleta to Fonte.
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