According to multiple reports, Vedad Ibišević would be a West Ham United player had VfB Stuttgart been willing to sell him during the last transfer window.
The 30-year-old claimed that he had many offers from various clubs and that “West Ham also wanted me, but Stuttgart did not want to sell this summer.” The Hammers were in the market for goals given the loss of Andy Carroll again. Enner Valencia, Diafra Sakho, and Mauro Zarate were forward options who were signed – and then there’s Carlton Cole of course. But perhaps West Ham should have made it their priority to sign Vedad Ibišević during this window and, depending on how the new signings get on, they still shouldn’t give up on him.
Ibišević, a Bosnian international, has not given up on a move away from Stuttgart in the near future however.
“I stayed but you never know, if a good offer comes in I may leave… the club [Stuttgart] have made some changes and the goal is a mid-table position… I have bigger ambitions so that is why I may leave,” he said.
What would Vedad Ibišević offer to West Ham should he get the move away which he is seemingly longing for?
First of all, he doesn’t come across as the most loyal of players but he did spend five years of his career with 1899 Hoffenheim, where he netted 48 league goals in 123 appearances. His move to Stuttgart has been a successful one for him so far. In all competitions, prior to the current season, he has so far scored 47 goals in just 95 appearances – almost a ratio of a goal every other game. All these goals for a side who haven’t finished above mid-table in the Bundesliga since he joined them, and who finished one place above the relegation play-off place last season.
So he certainly has the ability to score goals, but how would his style of play fit into Sam Allardyce’s?
Ibišević stands at 6ft 2in, making him slightly shorter than Carlton Cole but taller than Valencia, Zarate, and Sakho. He certainly ‘fits the bill’ for a Big Sam side, but as we know he has been told to change his style and his striker signings are testament to that. Ibišević can effectively use his height and last season he was the 23rd best player (out of 253 players who made a substantial amount of appearances) at winning aerial duels (4.7pg) in the Bundesliga.
However he’s not quite as effective in the air as Andy Carroll, who won an average of 8.9 aerials per game, which I would imagine is largely due to the differing style of play between the two clubs. Based on last year’s statistics, Ibišević would have been 6th in the Premier League list for average aerial duel wins per game. Right up Big Sam’s street, then?!
Vedad has proven his goalscoring ability in the Bundesliga and his aerial ability is certainly a big part of his game. The Hammers were after a goalscorer and you would assume that Allardyce wanted a player with strong ability in the air. It could have been a match made in heaven, but it clearly wasn’t to be.
Of course every player has his price and Stuttgart wouldn’t have declined every sum of money offered by West Ham. There is no confirmed amount that was offered, but but some reports have mentioned a fee of around £12m, which is what the Hammers ended up spending on Enner Valencia.
It’s little strange that West Ham weren’t willing to commit to a substantial amount for the 30-year-old Bosnian striker, but perhaps looking to the future was the priority. The Hammers need goals now, however, and if the new boys don’t get them then perhaps West Ham will rue not committing to the signing of Vedad Ibišević.
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