West Ham will be after a number of quality reinforcements this summer, following a disappointing campaign in the Premier League.
The London club finished 11th in the Premier League, having finished in a Europa League qualification place a year earlier.
As a result, manager Slaven Bilic will pick up where he left off in the January transfer window by further strengthening his first-team squad, and he should make a move for the soon-to-be-available Willy Caballero.
Manchester City announced on their official Twitter account on Thursday afternoon that the 35-year-old was set to be released at the end of the season upon the expiry of his contract.
Here, This is Futbol reveals three reasons why a move for Caballero would be well worth West Ham’s time and resources.
Experience
One of the big issues during West Ham’s struggles this season was the lack of leadership on the pitch.
Club captain Mark Noble was ever-present in the first-team squad, but very few senior figures stood up and set an example, at times including Noble.
Caballero has accumulated vast experience throughout his career, having made over 400 appearances since making his debut for Boca Juniors in 2001.
He also has European experience, with the stopper playing a key role as Malaga reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League in 2012-13.
Given the defence is also an area of great concern for West Ham, having an experienced figure like Caballero taking charge in between the sticks, could be of great value.
Reliable
Darren Randolph was the first-choice stopper at the London Stadium for the majority of the season, but fans expressed their concerns over his ability following a series of high profile individual errors.
The Republic of Ireland international also made several important saves, but the inconsistencies remain an issue that needs resolving.
Deputy stopper Adrian, meanwhile, also had a role to play, but saw himself axed after a poor start to the season. He later replaced Randolph for the remaining five matches, but is clear neither are a problem-free solution.
Caballero, meanwhile, stepped in when summer signing Claudio Bravo was struggling for Manchester City, and brought new-found stability to their defensive line-up. He kept seven clean sheets from his 17 Premier League appearances.
If West Ham were to hand Caballero the No.1 jersey next season, both the fans and the manager will know that they got themselves a performer they can rely on week-in, week-out.
Cheap and affordable
The third box to tick ahead of any potential deal is the all-important finances.
His imminent free-agent status means he will be available on the cheap, with his wage demands providing the only real setback.
But his demands should be well within West Ham’s reach, and depending on potential interest from elsewhere, the club could be a favourable option for him.
Should they snap up his current team-mate and fellow countryman Pablo Zabaleta, it could benefit them in their pursuit of Caballero.
A goalkeeper is far from the most pressing item on the agenda, but if they do turn to a new recruit, they would be more likely to move for a free-agent then spend considerable money on someone like Sunderland’s Jordan Pickford.
Given Caballero’s age, he will only be a temporary solution – while someone like Pickford will be there for the long-term – but he will be a solution nonetheless.