On the latest episode of the TIFO Football Podcast, Joe Devine, Alex Stewart and Seb Stafford-Bloor have been discussing some ‘sensible transfers’ that Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Burnley should look to do in the summer transfer window.
One man who was discussed on the recent podcast as a player that West Ham should look at signing this summer was Partizan Belgrade midfielder Sasa Zdjelar. The 25-year-old made 28 appearances in the Serbian SuperLiga last season, contributing one goal and two assists, featuring in the starting XI 93% of the time (per Transfermarkt).
Here’s what Stewart had to say about the former Olympiacos man, and why he thinks he would be a good signing for the Hammers this summer:
“Sasa Zdjelar, who’s at Partizan Belgrade, who’s a player who I think is genuinely one of the best central midfielders outside of Europe’s top five leagues. There isn’t anything that he can’t do and I think this is part of the point; he’s got the versatility to play as a defensive midfielder, dropping deep and taking the ball from the centre-backs and playing it long.
“He also gets forward, at Partizan he’s been playing more as a DM recently, but last season he was much more of a progressive [number] eight. His stats have obviously altered with his role, but he is consistently really good at whatever he does. He had a good run in the Champions League a few seasons back when he was at Olympiacos, but he’s just a fantastic all-round player and he’s the sort of person who could slot in at West Ham and do, basically, whatever’s asked of him.”
TIF Thoughts…
Stewart certainly seems to rate Zdjelar highly and considering that the Serbian is currently valued at just £1.98 million by Transfermarkt, perhaps he could represent an affordable option for Moyes in the summer transfer window.
Would Zdjelar be a good signing for West Ham?
Yes
No
The journalist makes reference to the midfielder’s versatility in his ability to play as both a defensive midfielder and a ‘progressive eight’ so perhaps he would prove to be a strong replacement for Declan Rice, should he leave the Hammers this summer, with him having been linked with a move to Chelsea in recent months.