‘A good fit’ – Sky Sports pundit talks up Hwang Hee-Chan as West Ham look for late deal
West Ham are interested in striker Hwang Hee-Chan and Sky Sports pundit Tom Williams thinks he could be a shrewd addition.
The South Korea international impressed with 16 goals and 22 assists for RB Salzburg last season, which earned him a summer switch to RB Leipzig.
He has struggled for game time in Germany however and was sidelined with Covid-19 in the autumn, but Williams thinks he would suit the Irons.
Appearing on Sky Sports’ Transfer Talk Podcast (30:02), he said, “[Hwang Hee-Chan has] a skillset that is not totally dissimilar to Heung-Min Son.
“He’s quick, two-footed, he’s very mobile and much more physically powerful than Son, more of a No 9 with quite a stocky build and he gets in behind an awful lot.
“He impressed against Liverpool in the Champions League which suggests he has what it takes to thrive against Premier League defences.
“In terms of his playing style, he looks like a good fit for English football.”
Shades of Antonio
There is a lot to like about Hwang Hee-Chan and signing him would mark a step forward for the club.
He has a good pedigree having made six goal contributions in six Champions League games in 2019/20, and at 25 has room for development.
The Korean can operate up-front or on the wing, like his compatriot Son, and if he can match his performances we will have some players on our hands.
Comparisons to the Tottenham forward are encourgaing, but Hwang’s playing style is also similar to Michail Antonio.
That would be a huge bonus.
A nickname of ‘The Bull’ indicates how Hwang operates, and he could unsettle defences in a similar manner to our number 30.
His return of 2.3 key passes and 1.3 dribbles per game (WhoScored) in the Champions League also shows he can perform at the highest level, and it means he offers a similar threat to Antonio.
Williams’ remarks about his willingness to run in behind and his stocky build underline that fact.
RB Leipzig are believed to be keen on loaning him out, which could provide us with a chance to test him in the Premier League.
If he performs well, we could then make moves to sign him permanently, so this potential addition has plenty of positives.
In other West Ham news, ‘That’s incredible’ – Jurgen Klopp pours praise on West Ham star ahead of Sunday clash.