Podcast pundit Tom Edwards has been discussing the recent transfer link between West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion defender Shane Duffy.
According to a recent report by the Daily Record, the Hammers and Scottish Premiership outfit Celtic are the two ‘likeliest’ sides to secure the services of the centre-back.
It is also claimed in that report that a permanent deal to sign the 28-year-old Irishman would set the buyer back about £5m – which the Irons are supposedly ‘prepared to pay‘.
So, in the latest episode of the We Are West Ham Podcast, Edwards aired his thoughts on the transfer link between West Ham and Duffy.
He said: “I was more embarrassed than anything. Not to say he’s not been a good Premier League pro, but [at] the end of the day, Brighton’s third or fourth-choice centre-half…
“Four years ago, the bloke wouldn’t [have] even made our 23-man squad leaving Upton Park. Now, you’re [telling] me that he’s going to come in and potentially be our third-choice centre-half.
“It’s just no progression – it’s pointless. Why not get one of the youngsters in around it to be the fourth choice, keep [Fabian] Balbuena around [or] use [Declan] Rice as a potential fourth-choice rather than getting someone else in who’s shown his ceiling as a player – which is bottom five in the Premier League max and no more.
“He’s not done anything wrong, but he’s just someone we should nowhere near be looking at. He’s not improving the squad or helping the club out in any way.”
TIF Thoughts…
As can be seen in what Edwards had to say, he strongly believes that the Irons should not be looking at signing Duffy from the Seagulls this summer.
Is Shane Duffy good enough to play for West Ham?
Yes, I think he is
No, I don't think so
However, over 19 appearances in the Premier League during the 2019/20 season, Duffy still earned a respectable 6.71/10 average rating which made him Brighton’s joint-fifth-best performer (per WhoScored).
So, perhaps the 28-year-old defender is better than what the podcast pundit is giving him credit for.