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The Sun recently reported that West Ham United are planning to sign Manchester United veteran Antonio Valencia in the upcoming summer transfer window if Pablo Zabaleta decides to retire at the end of the season.

At 33 years old, Valencia’s playing career is nearing its end. The Red Devils’ club captain is no longer a regular at Old Trafford, having only made five Premier League appearances so far this season, as per Transfermarkt’s stats. 

Valencia’s contract with Manchester United is set to expire at the end of the season, so the Hammers ought to be able to bring him to the London Stadium on a free transfer if a replacement for Zabaleta is needed. Valencia’s arrival would certainly have some knock-on effects in east London.

Football FanCast take a look at the potential consequences below...

Faith in Fredericks

If Zabaleta does decide to retire then Pellegrini will need to find a new right-back to compete with Ryan Fredericks for the starting berth. However, by bringing in Valencia to fill that role, the Chilean coach is essentially investing his faith in Fredericks. 

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Valencia isn’t capable of playing week in, week out anymore, so his role in the squad will be limited to offering a back up and rotation option only. Fredericks will be playing the bulk of the football. From the glimpses we’ve seen of 26-year-old this season it’s clear that he still has a way to go to convince that he has what it takes to thrive at the top level.

By not bringing in a younger option to compete with Fredericks, Pellegrini would be indicating that he believes that the former Fulham full-back has what it takes.

The repetition of past mistakes

Last season, West Ham signed then-36-year-old full-back Patrice Evra on a free transfer. The switch turned out to be a disaster. The Frenchman could no longer keep up with the pace of the Premier League and his decline was cruelly exposed in east London.

Bringing in Valencia would run the risk of repeating this mistake. Just as Evra’s shortcomings were revealed, the Ecuadorian’s could be too. West Ham’s defence wouldn’t be improved in this situation, and as Evra proved to be, Valencia could become a liability at the back for the Irons.

More trouble for Gold and Sullivan

Last February, West Ham co-owner David Sullivan made a commitment to West Ham fans about improving the club’s recruitment structure. This promise appeared to have been kept in the summer, as big money was spent to bring the likes of Felipe Anderson, Andriy Yarmolenko, Issa Diop and Jack Wilshere, amongst others, to the club.

However, signing Valencia in the summer could see Sullivan, and fellow co-owner David Gold, come under fire from the supporters once again. Bringing the 93-cap Ecuador international to the club could be seen as a sign of slipping back into bad, old habits - signing cheap, ageing, declining stars, rather than building for the future and investing in the next generation of emerging players.