West Ham United are reportedly poised to snap up Alvaro Arbeloa on a free transfer.
Alvaro Arbeloa in action for Liverpool as Rafael Benitez watches on
According to Sky Sports, West Ham United are in talks to sign free agent defender Alvaro Arbeloa to boost their defensive options.
With Michail Antonio seemingly being allowed to return to his natural position as a winger, Hammers boss Slaven Bilic desperately needs to bring in a veteran right back to challenge with the inexperienced Sam Byram.
Steven Gerrard All Stars’ Jerome Sinclair in action with Jamie Carragher All Stars’ Alvaro Arbeloa
The Daily Mail claim that West Ham have had a loan bid for Micah Richards rejected, but an alternative appears to have emerged in the final hours of the transfer window.
Sky Sports report that former Liverpool right back Alvaro Arbeloa is in England today as he closes in on a one-year deal with West Ham.
Alvaro Arbeloa celebrates
The West Ham official website suggested in their ‘Insider’ piece earlier today that an unnamed Spanish World Cup-winning defender was set to join the club upon the completion of a medical – and it’s clear that the player in question is Arbeloa.
The 33-year-old defender has Premier League experience having made 66 appearances for Liverpool, and he’s now a free agent after making more than appearances for Real Madrid.
Alvaro Arbeloa in action against Nigeria
Given that he’s a free agent, Arbeloa’s move can in fact be completed after the transfer deadline passes, but West Ham appear to be edging towards a deal before 11pm with the player heading to England.
Arbeloa’s experience will be invaluable to West Ham, and he heads to East London having won the Champions League twice, La Liga once, the World Cup once and the European Championships twice in a trophy-laden career.
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