West Ham are reportedly interested in Lazio’s Jordan Lukaku – here is why they should avoid the signing at all costs.
As Manuel Pellegrini looks to rebuild his West Ham squad and realistically help them challenge for a place in Europe, he has been handed a bumper budget to sign the players that he deems necessary.
West Ham have been in ping-pong negotiations with Lazio over the transfer of Brazilian winger Felipe Anderson and it has been reported that Anderson is not the only Laziale that Pellegrini has his eye on.
As reported by Repubblica, Jordan Lukaku, brother of Manchester United striker Romelu, has been identified as a possible signing – but would be one of West Ham’s biggest mistakes in the transfer market.
Firstly, Lazio will not let Lukaku go cheap. As the Felipe Anderson saga has shown, Lazio president Claudio Lotito and director Igli Tare are intent on getting every last penny they can for their players. Lukaku, therefore, would likely set the Hammers back a fee in the region of €20 million.
For a player who started just 10 league games for Lazio in the 17/18 Serie A and played an average of just 44 minutes per game, €20 million is a lot of money. Lukaku’s fitness is poor, to say the least, and when starting games for Lazio, he never looks able to play a full 90 minutes.
Additionally, although he is a powerful attacking threat from left-back, West Ham already have Arthur Masuaku, who is, arguably, not just a more clinical attacker but a more complete player. Lukaku lacks a defensive mindedness and is often caught out of position and whilst he can surge down the left, he tries to beat the man too often instead of passing, costing his team possession.
As West Ham already have a talented, young left-back – it would make little sense spending money on Lukaku that could be better invested elsewhere.
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