Frank McAvennie, a former West Ham player, has expressed his doubts about the club’s potential signing of Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson. With a reported price tag of £15-20 million, McAvennie believes that West Ham already has sufficient talent in the winger position, making Nelson’s addition unnecessary.
McAvennie’s concerns are rooted in the fact that West Ham already boasts a talented array of wingers, including Lucas Paqueta, Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus, and new signing Luis Guilherme. With such depth in the squad, Nelson would likely find himself relegated to the bench, making his signing a questionable investment.
“Do we really need more wingers?” McAvennie asked in an exclusive interview with West Ham Zone. “Kudus plays on the wing, Bowen is a natural winger, and Paqueta plays out there too. I don’t know if we need wingers.” McAvennie’s skepticism is understandable, given the abundance of talent already at manager Julen Lopetegui’s disposal.
Furthermore, McAvennie questions Nelson’s ability to break into the West Ham starting lineup, given his struggles to do so at Arsenal. “Plus, if he’s not going to get a game for Arsenal, why should he get one for West Ham?” McAvennie asked. “You want players to fight to get into the team, but if he’s not good enough, he’s not going to make it at West Ham.”
Nelson’s situation at Arsenal is indeed precarious, with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Leandro Trossard all vying for attacking positions. Despite making 41 appearances since returning from a season-long loan at Feyenoord in 2022, Nelson started just one Premier League game last season.
While Nelson is known for bringing energy and enthusiasm to the pitch, his lack of playing time at Arsenal suggests that he may face similar challenges at West Ham. With the Hammers already possessing a strong attacking lineup, it’s unclear whether Nelson would be able to displace any of the current starters.
The potential signing of Nelson has received a mixed reaction from West Ham fans, with many expressing skepticism about the need for another winger. Given the club’s existing talent in that position, it’s hard to argue with McAvennie’s assessment that Nelson would be a luxury signing, rather than a necessity.
In other news, West Ham fans can breathe a sigh of relief regarding the Lucas Paqueta saga, after a proposal was submitted for a replacement. This development suggests that the club is proactive in addressing any potential gaps in the squad, making the signing of Nelson seem even more unnecessary.
In conclusion, while Reiss Nelson is undoubtedly a talented player, Frank McAvennie’s concerns about his potential signing are valid. With West Ham’s existing talent in the winger position, it’s unclear whether Nelson would be able to make a meaningful contribution to the team. As the transfer window continues, it will be interesting to see whether West Ham decides to pursue other targets, rather than splashing out on a player who may struggle to break into the starting lineup.