Exclusive: McAvennie reacts as Diego Costa is reportedly proposed to West Ham
We’re delighted to welcome former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the London Stadium…
Frank McAvennie is unsure about whether West Ham should sign Diego Costa after the free agent was reportedly offered to the Premier League club.
Last week, beIN Sports journalist Tancredi Palmeri reported that the 32-year-old former Chelsea striker “has been proposed” to West Ham.
As Costa is a free agent after his contract at Atletico Madrid was terminated in December, David Moyes can sign him now and add him to his Premier League squad as long as there is a space.
Ex-Irons striker McAvennie likes Costa but is unsure about whether he’d be a good fit at the London Stadium.
“I was a big fan of Costa but he’s been out of the game for a bit,” McAvennie told West Ham Zone.
“He’d bring something to the party if he came to West Ham but it’s a strange one. Maybe get him in for between now and the end of the season and see what his fitness is because he’d only really be back up to [Michail] Antonio.
“But he’s a big lump of a boy. He’s a proper striker.
“Antonio runs around all over the place which is great but he just bashes defenders.
“I don’t know. It depends if the boy’s still not done. They could make a few phone calls to find out his attitude and all that kind of stuff because I’m convinced it’s David Moyes bringing players in now and the chairman has backed off.”
As the transfer deadline passed last Monday, West Ham fans became resigned to the fact that Moyes is happy to see out the rest of the season with just one striker in his first-team squad.
Sebastien Haller’s move to Ajax earlier on in January leaves Antonio as Moyes’ only real option up front, which does seem risky given the 30-year-old’s sketchy injury record.
Costa is someone who’s proven in the Premier League.
At Chelsea, the Spain international scored 52 goals in 89 league appearances.
Costa became popular for his ‘bull-in-a-china-shop’ approach to playing as a centre-forward, harassing and bullying defenders, using his strength to create space and hold up the ball and regularly showcasing his incredible ability to place a powerful shot into the net.
Would we take him at West Ham? Absolutely. He’s just the kind of striker that would fit our system.
In other West Ham news, our panel of Super Fans were furious with Tomas Soucek’s red card at Fulham.