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'Definitely not' - Paul Robinson urges West Ham to drop pursuit of 'short-term solution'
West Ham look as if they are gearing up for a relatively busy January transfer window.
With a move for Darren Randolph seemingly in the pipeline, albeit slightly on hold because of an injury issue, as per the Evening Standard, and with talks for Benfica youngster Gedson Fernandes also just about ongoing, as per The Guardian, it would appear that the intention is to give David Moyes all the help possible to help him sort out the mess he has been presented with in east London.
Another name that has been repeatedly mentioned is that of Welsh international Joe Allen.
According to Football Insider, the Hammers had a bid rejected for the 29-year-old earlier this month, with Stoke City holding out for a fee closer to £8 million.
But pundit Paul Robinson does not believe signing the midfielder would be a smart move for the Irons.
Speaking to Football Insider, he said: “He’s still playing week in, week out but a player of that age, it’s a short-term solution.
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“It may suggest they need legs in midfield with Rice and Noble – Noble’s not going to be able to play every minute of every game, as much as you’d like him to, and Joe Allen could fit that bill but he’s a very similar player to Noble at the moment.
“[Would £8million be good business?] No, definitely not. Not for a player of that age. He’s been around a long time, he’s experienced but I don’t see £8million for a Championship player around 30 as good value to be honest.”
The West Ham Zone’s View is that while £8 million might seem like a lot for a Championship player approaching 30, there are a couple of caveats to this deal, should it go through.
Firstly, while it’s true that Allen is playing at the lower end of the second tier, there are few who can deny the fact that he deserves better than that.
The midfielder has 53 caps to his game for Wales, and his Whoscored rating for the season is actually better than Hammers skipper Mark Noble’s.
Secondly, Allen might be 29, but if he were to carry on for as long as Noble has, for example, then he still has another five or six years left in him.
Factor in how inflated the market is at the moment, and you’d be tempted to argue that Robinson is, in fact, wrong here.
In other news, Moyes to make three changes: Predicted West Ham starting XI v Sheffield United.