Midfield targets “lack right character” for West Ham says former Hammer

Midfield targets “lack right character” for West Ham says former Hammer

Former West Ham United defender Danny Gabbidon has said he believes Hammers’ targets Jonjo Shelvey and Samir Nasri “lack the right character” to succeed at the London Stadium.

The Hammers have been linked with moves for the Newcastle United and Antalyaspor duo as David Moyes looks to add options to his midfield before the end of the transfer window tomorrow night.

However Gabbidon believes the Scot should look elsewhere in his pursuit of reinforcements as he believes both players would not suit his former club.

“I don’t think they’re the kind of players that West Ham need,” said Gabbidon in an interview with Betstars UK, “Yes, they’re both good players but I would just question their characters more than their abilities as players.



“I think adding both or either of them would affect the dynamics of the dressing room. Certainly with the position that West Ham are in at the minute, they need strong characters to push them up league and those two players have shown throughout their career that they don’t always have the best of character.

“I’d be surprised if I saw either of those deals go through.”

Instead, Gabbidon believes West Ham should be in the hunt for both a defensive midfielder and striker as they go into the second half of the season.

He continued: “They have a good squad already, but they need a defensive midfielder. You look at the midfielders in their squad and that is where there is an imbalance – they don’t really have a strong player who can sit in front of the defence to do that kind of dirty work and put out fires that stop attacks occurring.

 “Also possibly another striker to come in with Andy Carroll now being injured for a period of time and Javier Hernandez not really playing in the first eleven.

“Arnautovic has kind of being doing that job at the minute, but he’s not an out-and-out striker albeit doing it really well and scoring goals.”

You can read the full interview with Gabbidon here.