OPINION
There is no doubting that Pablo Zabaleta and Ryan Fredericks have not quite lived up to the expectations of the West Ham faithful with their performances this season.
The right backs might have impressed in flashes but their top quality displays were all too fleeting, leaving Manuel Pellegrini with a serious headache as to who he should be picking to start.
The truth is that neither were performing at top of their game enough to warrant the Chilean boss keeping either as his first choice and so it should not come as a surprise to see the Irons linked with new full back options this summer.
According to the Liverpool Echo, West Ham have been chasing the capture of 14-cap England international Nathaniel Clyne and with a £15million price tag on the 28-year-old’s head, he would not break the bank for the Hammers.
Experienced, talented and not to mention a homegrown player – which clubs are continuously wary about thanks to the quotas in place – Clyne has impressed at Bournemouth during his loan spell and it seems he needs a new permanent home after his ill-fated spell at Anfield.
West Ham can give him regular game time and end their own problems of the right of defence, offering a long-term replacement for the ageing Zabaleta while helping Fredericks develop into the top class player he promises to be.