Julen Lopetegui could save himself at West Ham by signing ‘special’ talent
Julen Lopetegui’s role as West Ham United boss has been under severe scrutiny since the start of the season.
The Hammers spent a massive chunk of money in the summer in an attempt to bolster their ranks and while some arrivals have taken like ducks to water, others have not been so lucky.
One of West Ham’s main problems last season was their defence as the team finished the season with the fourth-worst defensive record in the league.
While that seems to be on its way to being fixed, Lopetegui’s midfield has found itself under fire with both fans and pundits singling out players such as Guido Rodriguez and Edson Alvarez as one of the main sources of their problems.
Hence why, when rumours of the Hammers’ interest in James McAtee were first mooted, the interest of fans was piqued.
According to a report from GiveMeSport (3 December), West Ham are now “desperate” to add him to their ranks and it’s clear to see why.
How James McAtee could save Julen Lopetegui’s job at West Ham
Once described as “special” (Manchester City on X) by City manager Pep Guardiola, McAtee may still only be young but he has bags of talent and potential that could prove vital in a team like West Ham.
One of the Hammers’ main concerns regarding their midfield is the pace of some of their players.
Indeed, the Manchester City man is more of an attacking midfielder, but he could drop a bit deeper to help provide some pace and perhaps some more attacking prowess to the squad.
This season, he’s played eight times for the Cityzens across all competitions and has even bagged himself a Champions League goal.
He also spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Sheffield United and was a major hit with the Blades. He played 32 times across all competitions and made nine goal contributions during his time there.
His versatility also plays a massive part in why he’d be a perfect purchase for Lopetegui.
There’s still time for other targets to pop up before January comes around of course but on paper, McAtee seems to be the best option available to help keep the Spaniard at the club.
In other West Ham news, Real Betis have had their stance shared regarding the potential return of Guido Rodriguez.
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