View: West Ham would bolster top-eight finish with soon-to-be PL record holder
COMMENT By Will Butcher
Slaven Bilic must throw West Ham’s transfer hat into the ring and rival West Brom for Everton veteran Gareth Barry this summer.
The Daily Mail claim West Brom are looking to sign the 36-year-old midfielder to replace the loss of Scotland international Darren Fletcher, who has opted to join rivals Stoke City.
It is said that Everton manager Ronald Koeman values his former Manchester City star highly but appreciates that the midfielder needs to be playing regular football at this stage in his career.
Barry is just four Premier League appearances away from equalling Ryan Giggs’ record of playing in 632 top-flight outings, and will be keen to beat that record.
However, the Toffees have an abundance of central midfielders available to them in the likes of Tom Davies, Morgan Schneiderlin, Idrissa Gueye, James McCarthy and new signing Davy Klaassen.
It has pushed Barry down the midfield pecking order at Goodison Park and he may be looking to leave the club with West Brom preparing a two-year deal for the Aston Villa favourite.
West Ham need a new central midfielder after losing Norway international Havard Nordtveit who has joined Champions League side Hoffenheim after a disappointing season in England.
Although the former Arsenal youth player offered little in terms of quality when it came to wearing claret and blue, his departure still needs replacing.
The Hammers now have just three midfielders able to ply their trade in the middle of the park in captain Mark Noble, Spaniard Pedro Obiang and hard-working ace Cheikhou Kouyate.
Bringing Barry in would not only add depth to the Hammers side, but a huge amount of experience that would inspire the rest of Bilic’s squad.
West Ham have already signed proven Premier League stars in Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta, Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez, and Barry would be another example of just that.
In other West Ham transfer news, this Champions League winner would be an excellent replacement for Jose Fonte.
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