West Ham United would likely be beaten by other European sides if they were to make a serious bid for the Barcelona full-back, Jordi Alba.
This has been suggested by the insider Dean Jones who has been speaking to This Is Futbol ahead of the upcoming January transfer window.
According to reports in Spain, David Moyes’ side have their eyes on the experienced full-back and could look to make a move for him in the January window.
It is said in the report that Alba does not want to leave Barcelona but his salary is proving somewhat of an issue which the club would like to resolve before the January window.
Even if Alba is to be forced out of the Camp Nou in January, Jones has raised major doubts as to whether the Hammers would be able to attract Alba to London:
“If West Ham are flying high, like they have been in the not-so-distant past, then I might see more of a chance of it. But if he becomes available, I just feel like there’ll be other teams that would expect to sign Jordi Alba ahead of West Ham.”
TIF Thoughts on Jones’ comments…
Alba would certainly arrive at the London Stadium with a huge deal of experience having played just short of 600 club games across his career.
Would you like Alba at West Ham?
Yes
No
However, he is still playing a big role in the Barcelona side with 10 appearances to his name in La Liga already this season as well as two in the Champions League (via Transfermarkt).
So we do have to question whether Alba would welcome a move to West Ham when Barcelona are still able to offer him Europa League football and regular action in the league.
The Hammers are obviously enduring their own difficulties in the Premier League this season but do still have European football to contend with so strengthening in January could be a real point of emphasis.