West Ham United now have their eyes on the potential acquisition of the Ukrainian playmaker Ruslan Malinovskyi ahead of the January transfer window.
This is according to journalist Ben Jacobs, who initially discussed Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in the 29-year-old on Chris Cowlin’s YouTube channel.
West Ham’s London rivals have been heavily linked with a potential move for the Atalanta midfielder with reports suggesting the Lilywhites were interested in Malinovskyi over the summer.
And with the January transfer window now just a matter of days away, Jacobs has suggested the Hammers are another club that could offer the 29-year-old a landing spot.
The Ukrainian now has just a matter of months remaining on his deal with the Serie A side, which means the Irons could secure him on a relatively cheap deal or even sign him up on a pre-contract agreement:
(1:04:30) “West Ham have also looked and could be in the race.”
(1:06:00) “David Moyes made direct contact with the player. So West Ham are in the race, and Tottenham, as I understand it, are still in a consideration phase. So we’ll see how quickly [this progresses] if they move in January.”
TIF Thoughts on Jacobs’ comments…
Malinovskyi, who has been hailed as an ‘animal’, typically plays as an attacking midfielder but has had some difficulties this season in providing a return of goals and assists with just three contributions to his name (via Transfermarkt).
Who would you prefer to start at West Ham?
Lucas Paqueta
Ruslan Malinovskyi
This is somewhat similar to the summer signing Lucas Paqueta who also has just three goal involvements to his name this season across all competitions (via Transfermarkt).
With this in mind, we do question whether Malinovskyi would provide David Moyes with an upgrade or whether the Hammers’ boss would be better off addressing the men on the receiving end of Paqueta’s passes.
Goals have been a major concern for the Irons thus far and it is apparent off this season’s form, the Ukrainian is not a player who may come in and provide a dramatic change.