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Report: West Ham one of four clubs to have made bid for Argentina international
that West Ham United are one of four European clubs to have tabled an offer for River Plate and Argentina right-back Gonzalo Montiel, who is out of contract in the summer.
West Ham have been constantly linked with the 24-year-old right-back having lost Jeremy Ngakia and Pablo Zabaleta at the beginning of the season. They did bring in Vladimir Coufal, who has impressed since following Tomas Soucek to east London.
But the Hammers only have Ryan Fredericks as cover and the ex-Fulham man has struggled to make his mark at the London Stadium. Indeed, West Ham are clearly still on the look for right-backs and Montiel has emerged as an option.
Montiel, who has played over 100 times for River Plate, is out of contract in the summer and European clubs can approach him on a pre-contract basis – a move which would see him join for nothing at the end of the season.
The report does not specify if West Ham have decided to do that, or have made an official bid to sign him in the January window. What it does state, is that West Ham are one of four sides to have tabled an offer – along with Lyon, Bologna and Roma.
TBR’s view – Montiel on a free is an absolute no-brainer
Clearly, Montiel is a top player. You do not earn six caps for Argentine, neither do you play more than 100 games for one of the biggest clubs outside of Europe without being a top, top player. It explains why big hitters Roma and Lyon are interested.
If West Ham signed Montiel, he would eventually overtake Coufal as the club’s first-choice right-sided defender. The two could even combine, if Coufal moved to the right of a back three and Montiel played as a wing-back.
But on a free transfer, the Argentine is a no-brainer.
