West Ham can sign the 'extraordinary' England star on a free

West Ham They have struggled to find consistency underneath Julen Lopetegui This season, after spending About 120 million pounds sterling In the summer period, he brought ten new players into the team, and also tried to implement a completely new system.

One major area of ​​concern is midfield, with this issue extending back to the summer of 2023 when Declan Rice left the club. Since then, West Ham have been unable to find the right balance required in midfield.

A lack of mobility has been identified as a cause for concern, especially given the way Lopetegui likes to play, which for a certain individual could make a January move more attractive.

West Ham should reconsider their interest in the England international

Before Julen Lopetegui joined the Irons last summer, reports emerged suggesting that one of the players… The first players he managed to sign was Lille midfielder Angel Gomez.

Now, with just six months left on his contract with Les Dogues, they must reconsider their move for the England international. Gomez is now free to agree a pre-contract with a foreign club, which could also tempt Lille to sell in January for a fee for the player.

I have He has participated in 15 matches so far this season in all competitionsHe scored one goal and provided one assist, for a total of 885 minutes. The 24-year-old also made his first international appearance for England this season, having now played four times for his country.

Lee Carsley brought Gomez into the England squad, having worked closely with him at youth level in England. Upon his entry into the international scene, Sky Sports correspondent Rob Dorsett described the midfielder as “A little different“And a little”unusual“Because of the role he plays and how he has transformed over his short career so far.

How does Edson Alvarez compare to Angel Gomez

Edson Alvarez has signed for West Ham in the 2023 summer transfer window, with the aim of replacing Rice, joining from Ajax for a period of time. A fee of approximately £35.4 million.

The Mexican has it He has participated in 59 matches since joining the HammersHe scored two goals and provided two assists for a total of 4,178 minutes.

But as previously mentioned, a lack of mobility is an issue in West Ham's midfield, which usually consists of Alvarez alongside the likes of Tomas Soucek and Guido Rodriguez. Despite being only 5-foot-6, Gomez adds a dynamism to the midfield that other options do not, with the ability to cover ground and cut things off using his high intelligence.

You can see when comparing the two in their underlying numbers this season that Alvarez still brings good defensive numbers to the side, averaging 2.14 tackles, 1.22 blocks and 1.15 interceptions per 90, along with 5.20 ball recoveries per 90.

But if they are looking to continue with this new system that Lopetegui is implementing, looking to be more aggressive and play in a higher position, mobility and ground covering are the key qualities missing.

Gomez, despite offering little defensive action, still recovers 2.03 balls per 90, is a key figure in the deep build-up, linking the defensive and attacking lines, advancing the play with a combination of carrying ability, passing and, most importantly, tempo control. To his side.

Whether the Hammers decide to try to agree a deal in advance to get Gomez on a free, or if they test the waters in January with a low-ball offer to Lille, his profile would certainly be of great value to Lopetegui in midfield and could help him turn things around for West Ham.