Carlos Soler could be gifted West Ham United lifeline amid Julen Lopetegui admission
Carlos Soler could be gifted a chance to impress at West Ham United with Julen Lopetegui under pressure to ring in the changes in East London.
GiveMeSport [22 October] reports Lopetegui is facing pressure to enforce changes on his Hammers side with Lucas Paqueta and Alphonse Areola set to miss the clash against Manchester United on Sunday [27 October].
Soler has been resigned to five cameo appearances in the Premier League since his loan move from Paris Saint-Germain with his sole start coming in the 5-1 loss to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup.
Each match presents a must-win opportunity for Lopetegui as pressure begins to mount on his future at the Hammers, Soler could add much-needed experience to the midfield should Paqueta fall victim to the side’s abysmal form.
Carlos Soler can revive his career at West Ham United
Lopetegui is blessed with a plethora of midfield options at the London Stadium however, finding the perfect balance of versatility in his selections and/or the poor performances of the midfielders as a whole has become a problem for the boss.
The Spaniard has lost four of his opening eight Premier League matches for the Hammers and this is in no small part down to his players failing to perform to the standards expected of them.
Paqueta has looked like a shadow of his former self with the FA charges for spot-fixing lingering over his head and while Lopetegui will need his best players to face Manchester United perhaps it is time for a new approach in East London.
Soler has not been shy about his eagerness to play in the Premier League since his summer move he has had to bide his time thus far but it now no longer makes sense to keep a Champions League seasoned and multi-title-winner on the bench.
The 27-year-old has experience playing in an advanced midfield role and his ability to break down the opposition defence would complement Tomas Soucek’s more direct and physical style of play.
Lopetegui must prioritise players who want to wear the West Ham shirt over individual quality if he is to save his job in East London and Soler is the perfect blend of quality and desire.
In other West Ham news, a talkSPORT broadcaster is unsurprised by Tim Steidten question marks at the Irons.
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