West Ham United’s form in the Premier League has plummeted like a rock down a mountain this season, a stark difference to the excellent form of the past two seasons that clinched European qualification on both occasions.
What’s the word?
With Irons boss David Moyes looking to rectify the woes that have recently plagued his team, SC Freiburg’s dynamic forward Roland Sallai has been distinguished as an avenue to bolster the efforts over the latter course of the campaign.
This is according to Hungarian journalist Bence Bocsak, who recently took to Twitter to confirm the growing attention on the player, and the prospects of a transfer.
He tweeted:
“Many clubs are interested in Roland Sallai (25) in January. He switched agencies recently and is open to a move.
“Lazio, Wolverhampton, West Ham, Sevilla and Fiorentina are all possible destinations. He has 4 G/As in his last 4 caps. Freiburg want €20m.”
With stiff competition for his services, Moyes would be prudent to act with conviction and swiftly, signing the player for roughly £17.6m after convincing him that his future is best suited with the ambitious east London outfit.
Dybala 2.0
Sallai has scored just one goal this season, although he has only made five starts due to an injury that severely hampered his progress, ruling him out for 13 competitive matches.
His international record, however, is exemplary; scoring nine goals and serving five assists from 38 appearances for Hungary, Sallai has cemented his integral offensive role for his nation, notably starring in the momentous 4-0 demolition of England at Wembley earlier this year.
In that match, as per Sofascore, the 25-year-old played his part to devastating effect, scoring an emphatic brace and proving to be a consistent threat with his 30 touches and 78% pass success rate.
His defensive statistics also caught the eye, with his three tackles, two interceptions and one clearance playing a vital part in rebuffing the advances of England on a chastening night on home soil.
Such dogged attributes would be a welcome bonus to the Hammers, who could certainly utilise a player boasting offensive and defensive calibre in the fight to return to prominence in the division.
The Daily Mail once stated that reports had left the Hungarian ace likened to A.S.a Roma's Paulo Dybala, who has been a perennial star within the Serie A ranks for years, winning a wealth of major honours with Juventus before his summer switch this year, and scoring 103 goals and 53 assists in the league from 280 appearances since his debut with Palermo.
There will undoubtedly be reservations over a player that has yet to open his account in the German Bundesliga this term, but there is a layer of natural talent to Sallai’s game that could prove to be a valuable option at Moyes’ disposal.
A player who has not quite found his feet this term, West Ham must not be deterred, as evidenced by Bocsak's tweet, there is plenty of intrigue from ambitious outfits for his signature; Sallai would bring a versatile approach and a robust presence to the heart of the team, flourishing across a number of roles and always on the search to instigate forward plays.