The Athletic journalist Roshane Thomas has recently aired his belief that left-back is a priority position for West Ham United to recruit in this summer.
Currently, the Irons have just two out-and-out left-backs in their first-team squad – those being Arthur Masuaku and Aaron Cresswell (per Transfermarkt).
However, during the 2019/20 Premier League season, both players were in disappointing form as Cresswell delivered a 6.62/10 average rating and Masuaku earned a weaker 6.60/10 (per WhoScored).
Those ratings meant that Cresswell was only the Irons’ joint-13th-best performer in the league and Masuaku was the 16th-best performer.
So, in the latest episode of The Athletic’s U Irons podcast, Thomas aired his belief that the left-back position should be a priority for David Moyes this summer.
He said: “In terms of forward playing from someone like Cresswell, for example, he doesn’t have the legs anymore to make those surging runs on a consistent basis.
“I can’t remember the name of the Brentford winger [in the recent 2-1 pre-season victory for West Ham], but he just kept making runs in behind and he was having so much success.
“Obviously, going forward, in terms of forward runs, Masuaku can do it, but he’s a liability in defence. He has been for quite some time now. So, everyone knows it. It’s common knowledge now.
“[The left-back position is definitely] a priority for West Ham this summer, that’s for sure.”
TIF Thoughts…
As can be seen in what Thomas had to say, he believes that it is a “priority” for the Hammers to improve their options at left-back this summer.
Should signing a left-back be David Moyes' priority in the transfer window this summer?
Yes, it's what we need
No, not what we need
One man who was linked with a move to the London Stadium this summer by the Telegraph in July is Queens Park Rangers full-back Ryan Manning.
The Irishman bagged four goals and seven assists over 41 Championship appearances for QPR during the 2019/20 season (per WhoScored).
His impressive 7.11/10 average rating in the league from the most recent season would certainly suggest that he is a talented player and that he could perhaps be a solution to West Ham’s left-back issues.