Guido Rodriguez set to sign two-year West Ham United contract after medical
Guido Rodriguez has completed his medical at West Ham ahead of signing a two-year contract with the club, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Italian journalist posted on X (5 August) that the Argentina midfielder is expected to sign for two seasons at the London Stadium on Monday, barring any last-minute complications.
Rodriguez left La Liga side Real Betis at the end of his contract on 1 July, and looks set to sign for the Hammers as a free agent – their second such transfer of the summer after Wes Foderingham in June.
Guido Rodriguez could be signing of the summer for West Ham
The Irons certainly haven't been shy to splash the cash so far in Julen Lopetegui's first transfer window, with several big-money deals announced and another on the horizon in the form of Niclas Fullkrug [Fabrizio Romano, 5 August].
Therefore, adding a 30-year-old World Cup-winning midfielder could slip under the radar somewhat, but Rodriguez has the potential to be the most crucial addition Lopetegui makes this summer.
Last season's ramshackle defence let in a whopping 74 goals – the fourth-worst tally in the Premier League – and a factor behind that was a lack of presence and bite in midfield after selling Declan Rice.
Rodriguez is by no means a similar profile of player to Rice, but his ability to sit and screen in front of the back four will allow other midfielders like Tomas Soucek and James Ward-Prowse to push forward.
Particularly with Edson Alvarez out of action through injury, Rodriguez's signing could prove to be the smartest piece of business the Irons make this summer, and unlike Fullkrug, Luis Guiherme, Max Kilman and Crysencio Summerville, they're not having to shell out vast amounts of cash.
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