West Ham Zone View: Bent surely well wide of mark with claims of ‘fantastic’ mooted raid
West Ham Zone View
Darren Bent has claimed that Cardiff City goalkeeper Neil Etheridge would be a “fantastic signing” for the Hammers, but he’s surely well wide of the mark.
The Hammers reportedly tabled a bid believed to be worth around £7 million for the stopper following Lukasz Fabianski’ second injury of the season, sustained against Sheffield United last Friday, as per Football Insider.
And while that approach was knocked back, Bent is of the opinion that the 29-year-old would be a fine acquisition for the Irons, should they continue to pursue a deal.
Speaking to Football Insider, he said: “I know Neil really well, I was at Fulham with him.
“He’s a good character, good goalkeeper, really dedicated at what he does.
“And yeah he’d be a fantastic signing.
“At the moment, it just highlights the real lack of top-quality goalkeepers that are out there, I think Etheridge is good…”
But there are a couple of layers to this one.
First and foremost, do the Hammers now need Etheridge after they completed the signing of Darren Randolph from Middlesbrough, as per the BBC?
You would be inclined to say no, bearing in mind that they do already have Fabianski, David Martin, and Roberto on the books, but it all depends on how highly David Moyes rates those latter two.
If he decides to offload Roberto, and if he reinstates David Martin as a training ground goalkeeper like he was supposed to be, then maybe a move for yet another stopper isn’t out of the question.
And Etheridge would be good enough to fulfil that role – and then some.
The Cardiff keeper made 141 saves over the course of 38 Premier League appearances, as per the league themselves, and impressed throughout their ill-fated top flight campaign last term.
But whether the Hammers would be willing to spend in excess of £7 million for another goalkeeper this window remains to be seen.
In truth, it feels quite unlikely, and that sum could surely be better spent somewhere else instead…
In other news, ‘Not up to speed’ – Matthew Upson slams West Ham flaw that trails behind London rivals.