Pundit baffled West Ham United didn’t sign Josip Juranovic from Celtic in January
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 has admitted to being baffled by West Ham deciding not to sign Josip Juranovic from Celtic during the January transfer window.
The Croatian right-back left the Scottish champions and joined Union Berlin in a £10m deal this month after shining at the World Cup, in a move that surprised many.
The Hammers are said to be in the market for a new right-back, with Tottenham defender Djed Spence linked with a potential loan move to the London Stadium before Tuesday’s deadline, but McAvennie admitted that he doesn’t know much about the youngster but can’t see why Juranovic wasn’t targeted.
“I don’t know the boy too much because he hasn’t played, but they could do with a right-back,” he told West Ham Zone.
“Left-back as well, because Cresswell is still at left-back. He’s getting on a bit and he’s not the quickest overall.
“They need defenders, they definitely need defenders.
“They bought a left-back but he’s not been in the team yet. A right-back, yeah bring him in.
“Coufal hasn’t been playing well. He was doing great and then all of a sudden, round about the time Soucek stopped playing well. I don’t know what that was all about.
“We were playing Johnson at right-back.
“Obviously getting a good right-back, I would have gone for Juranovic. He’s gone to Union Berlin.
“It’s the Bundesliga but I think he could have done wonders at West Ham. But they never moved for him, and I just don’t get that.
“I don’t know who they’ve got in mind, but £10m for someone who played at the World Cup. I thought he would have been ideal for them, but again, obviously David has got his eye on somebody else.”