West Ham United supporters felt a pang of concern after David Moyes departed the membership on the finish of the 2023/24 marketing campaign. It was the fitting determination, however nonetheless, the Scot had led the membership to their brightest interval in trendy historical past, and the highway forward seemed fraught with the murky unknown.
Julen Lopetegui‘s subsequent appointment didn’t allay such trepidation, with supporters viewing the deal as pragmatic, however he has since proved himself daring and dedicated to constructing a aggressive squad, combining with technical director Tim Steidten within the switch market to make some thrilling signings.
A brand new centre-forward is but to return, however one of the necessary points has been mitigated in central defence, with Max Kilman signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £40m.
West Ham switch information
Lopetegui desires extra in defence. In response to Caught Offside, West Ham are main the race to signal Ajax centre-half Josip Sutalo, who has additionally been scouted by Brighton & Hove Albion and Fulham within the Premier League.
Valued at €30m (£25m) by the struggling Dutch giants, the Croatian is anticipated to be on the centre of official bids, albeit under Ajax’s expectation.
West Ham are in essentially the most commanding place after signing Edson Alvarez and Mohammed Kudus from the Eredivisie aspect final 12 months, and will now use previous dealings to their benefit.
Why West Ham need Josip Sutalo
West Ham have thought-about promoting central defensive mainstays Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma this summer season, the latter of whom is the membership’s captain.
Sutalo, 24, accomplished 39 appearances for Ajax final time period and performed each minute of Croatia’s disappointing Euro 2024 marketing campaign, with the Luka Modric-captained nation failing to make it previous the group section, accumulating two factors.
It may need been a tricky season for membership and nation so far as the 6 foot 3 titan is worried, however there is not any query that he has maintained a formidable degree all through, combining defensive metal with bouncing power and crisp passing.
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Josip Sutalo: 2023/24 Stats |
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|---|---|---|
|
Statistics |
Eredivisie |
Euro 2024 |
|
Matches performed |
23 |
3 |
|
Objectives |
1 |
0 |
|
Cross completion |
92% |
96% |
|
Clear sheets |
3 |
0 |
|
Touches per recreation |
85.8 |
82.0 |
|
Tackles per recreation |
1.3 |
1.7 |
|
Interceptions per recreation |
1.7 |
4.3 |
|
Clearances per recreation |
3.7 |
2.3 |
|
Ball recoveries per recreation |
6.6 |
4.3 |
|
Dribbles per recreation |
0.6 (61%) |
1.0 (100%) |
|
Duels received per recreation |
5.0 (60%) |
5.3 (59%) |
|
Direct errors made |
0 |
1 |
Progressive and proficient throughout a variety of roles, Sutalo could be a superb addition to a new-look West Ham defence, partnering with the left-sided Kilman to create a dynamic sheen.
Kilman, aged 27, is just not precisely the standard defender both, liable to surging forwards and searching for out passages himself, with the clip under highlighting the sort of shuttling success he can discover with the ball at his ft.
The Wolves defender, who plied his commerce beneath Lopetegui throughout the 2022/23 season, averaged 4.7 recoveries and clearances per recreation within the Premier League final time period and received 71% of his aerial battles, suggesting that the Irons may discover a strong partnership able to performing nicely regardless of the situations.
One 12 months in the past, expertise scout Jacek Kulig described Sutalo as “one of the underrated U-23 CBs in Europe“, talking extremely of his potential.
He may need endured a testing 12 months however the Croatia star has proved himself sturdy regardless of the woes of the collective, and could be a credit score to West Ham as they step into a brand new period.
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