da pinnacle： According to reports from London Evening Standard, West Ham are considering a January loan move for Chelsea goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.
What’s the word?
da dobrowin： Following a humiliating defeat to Arsenal on Saturday, West Ham appear keen to revive their fortunes by signing two proven Premier League players in January – albeit on loan until the end of the campaign.
Whilst the majority of the LES report focuses on the Hammers’ interest in Manchester United’s much-maligned battering ram Marouane Fellaini, which we covered yesterday, the capital-based publication also claim the east London club could swoop for Chelsea’s Asmir Begovic – who has made just three first-team appearances, all in the EFL Cup, so far this season.
What about Adrian?
On the surface, West Ham are pretty well-stocked in the goalkeeping department. Most view Adrian as a Premier League quality glovesman and understudy Darren Randolph performed well when called upon last season, not to mention for Ireland during the summer’s European Championship.
But, perhaps due to the porous defence surrounding him, the Spaniard hasn’t quite been himself this season, conceding the third-most goals of any Premier League goalkeeper – however, also recording the fifth most saves with 35 from eleven games.
Adrian was dropped in favour of Randolph last weekend and although it didn’t have much of an impact on West Ham’s woeful form, losing 5-1 to Arsenal at home, the 29-year-old’s absence suggested Slaven Bilic isn’t happy with his recent contributions.
Begovic, meanwhile, may be out of the limelight at Chelsea but more than proved his Premier League credentials during five campaigns as Stoke City’s No.1, before moving to Stamford Bridge in summer 2015.
Since then, the Bosnian shot-stopper has performed understudy duties diligently, particularly impressing last season while Thibaut Courtois was sidelined through injury. In addition to bringing proven ability to West Ham’s squad, he should inject some much-needed calmness into the Irons’ often calamitous backline.
Courtesy of Squawka.
How likely is a January deal?
Well, Chelsea certainly won’t be worried about strengthening a Premier League rival by letting Begovic leave, with a staggering 22 points separating the west Londoners and the Hammers in the table.
Likewise, Chelsea are already out of the League Cup and didn’t qualify for Europe this season, so the FA Cup is Begovic’s only real chance of picking up game-time during the second half of the campaign – and even that could come to an abrupt end in the third round. The 6ft. 6″ Bosnian will want opportunities and would probably welcome the chance of a loan move to another Premier League club.
At the same time, Chelsea are a football club, not a charity, and they certainly won’t be doing their London rivals any favours. Begovic may be growing frustrated by his limited game-time, but he’s still a vital member of Chelsea’s squad as backup to Courtois. Third-choice Eduardo, the 34-year-old who was No.1 at Dynamo Zagreb before signing for the Blues during the summer, is a far less convincing alternative.
With that in mind, it will likely all come down to Chelsea’s league standing once we reach the final few days of the January window. But currently three points clear at the Premier League’s summit, it seems almost impossible for them to not still be in the title race at that time.
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