West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic must act fast if he is to win the race to sign of Manchester City outcast Fabian Delph.
The Hammers are enduring a poor second season under Slaven Bilic and are desperate for new recruits in the January transfer window.
The club has been linked with moves for a host of players including Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe, Brentford’s Scott Hogan, Celtic star Moussa Dembele, Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi, Hull City playmaker Robert Snodgrass, Stoke City’s Glen Johnson and Arsenal’s Carl Jenkinson.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
Approaching halfway into the month-long window the Hammers have so fair failed to bring anyone in with a number of bids reportedly rejected for Defoe, Robert Snodgrass at Hull, Hogan and Johnson.
But Bilic must act fast and get ahead of Newcastle and Villa who are both reportedly eyeing up a move for Fabian Delph, who has been frozen out by Pep Guardiola at the Etihad.
Delph is in to his second season at City and has still played just 779 minutes in the Premier League with only eight starts, all coming last season and has lost his place in the England squad as a result.
The Magpies are under pressure to secure an instant return to the Premier League after relegation and face increasing competition from the likes of Brighton, Reading and Leeds United for one of the top two automatic spots.
Manchester City’s Fabian Delph in action
According to The Sun, Benitez has been linked with a move for all-action midfielder Delph while Steve Bruce has also been exploring bringing him back to Villa Park – as reported by The Telegraph.
But Delph would be exactly what Bilic needs to reinvigorate his lacklustre side.
With key midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate away at the African Nations, Bilic is short of a dominant midfield presence, as was exposed by the 5-0 thrashing to Guardiola’s City side in the FA Cup last time out.
Right back has also been a major problem for West Ham this season and Delph can also fill in there should he be needed.
The club’s co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold tend to favour loan moves with the option to buy should the player prove a success.
And that could be the ideal solution for all parties as Delph gets guaranteed game time in the Premier League where he can try to fight his way back into the England reckoning while West Ham get the cover they need and City some wages off their books.
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