Miguel Veloso is still without a club so could the Portugal international solve West Ham’s problems in defensive midfield?
West Ham United have had a tough start to life under new manager Manuel Pellegrini, losing all three of their Premier League matches to leave them bottom of the table.
After disappointing displays against Liverpool and Bournemouth, there were encouraging signs for the Hammers at the weekend despite their eventual 3-1 defeat to Arsenal.
Club record signing Felipe Anderson has started to show his full potential, while Marko Arnautovic looks set to build on his impressive debut season at the London Stadium with two goals already this time around.
Yet attack doesn’t appear to be the problem for Pellegrini. The issues seem to lie defensively and not in a back line that has seen three new additions this summer, but in defensive midfield.
It is already clear that Mark Noble and Jack Wilshere cannot play alongside each other in Pellegrini’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation and while new addition Carlos Sanchez could be the answer, his previous experience in England with Aston Villa does not build much confidence.
However, with the transfer window closed, free agents are the only options to West Ham if they want to improve in the position before January – but luckily for them the ideal candidate could actually be available.
Portugal international Miguel Veloso has been without a club since being released by Genoa and while Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers have been linked with a move by TEAMtalk, nothing has materialised as yet.
With 56 caps for his country, Champions League and Europa League experience and major trophy wins in his home country and Ukraine, Veloso could be the ideal companion for Noble, Wilshere, or even Sanchez in central midfield.
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