David Moyes should urge West Ham United to sign Aaron Ramsey this summer after Steve Howey claimed that a move to the London Stadium “would suit” the Juventus midfielder.
Former Newcastle ace Howey has been speaking exclusively with Football Transfer Tavern amid widespread rumours linking the Welshman with a return to the Premier League.
Ramsey only moved to the Serie A at the end of his Arsenal contract in 2019, but has struggled to establish himself at the Allianz Stadium, where he earns £400,000 per week.
West Ham is one potential destination for the midfield maestro, with reports in Italy suggesting that the Irons could make a move as Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici weighs up avenues to clear space in Andrea Pirlo’s squad.
Crystal Palace are also monitoring Ramsey’s situation, while Everton have allegedly been offered the Wales international for €15m (£13m). The 30-year-old has been suggested as Georginio Wijnaldum’s replacement at Liverpool as well.
Newcastle even tried to sign Ramsey last summer, only for the Cardiff City product to reject a move to St James’ Park, and Howey doubts that he would take up the Toon’s offer this year if a return to the capital with West Ham is possible.
“I think it would suit him, it’s London. I can’t see him coming up north, if I’m being brutally honest. I think that could be a good one,” Howey said.
“Jesse Lingard, would he want to go back to Manchester United? He’s gone to West Ham and absolutely turned it around, because he was disappearing and disappearing fast [at Old Trafford].”
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It remains to be seen how highly Juventus value Ramsey come the summer and which clubs are willing to offer the Welshman a return to the Premier League, but Moyes should ensure that West Ham are near the front of the queue.
Ramsey’s time in Turin may have been blighted by injuries which have left the Old Lady considering moving the midfielder on at the end of the season, but he was a creative maestro in the Premier League.
Over 11 seasons at the Emirates Stadium and 262 top-flight appearances for Arsenal, Ramsey was involved in 91 goals (40 scored, 51 assisted) and never ended a campaign with less than five goal involvements between 2011 and 2019.
Only Lingard (six goals, four assists) and Tomas Soucek (nine goals) have been involved in more than five from central midfield positions for West Ham this season, with each of Pablo Fornals’ involvements (three goals, three assists) coming from wide roles.
However, doubt resides over Lingard’s future at the London Stadium as the Hammers could not agree a purchase clause with Manchester United when signing the England international on loan, and recent reports suggest that the Red Devils would now demand £30m.
Moyes also has a lack of depth behind Soucek and Declan Rice in the holding role – which the latter's lateral knee ligament injury has made clear – with Mark Noble the only natural senior cover.
West Ham could plug two gaps with one stone by signing Ramsey this summer, and add a high-calibre option to Moyes’ squad who Gunners icon Ray Parlour has lauded as “a brilliant player” and expects will “probably finish his career in England”.
AND in other news, West Ham land major boost in race to sign “complete” £11m-rated target for free…