Ahmed Musa: West Ham United must avoid free-agent swoop | OneFootball

Reports by 90min earlier this week claimed West Ham United are weighing up a move to sign free-agent Ahmed Musa, but David Moyes should ignore a potential deal for the former Leicester City striker.

It is thought the Hammers, as well as Newcastle United and Southampton, are considering the Nigeria international as a late post-window addition to add a bit of extra firepower to their attacks after West Bromwich Albion passed on the 28-year-old.

Musa had been training with Sam Allardyce’s side in a bid to prove his fitness to the relegation-threatened Baggies, as he strives to secure another shot at playing in the Premier League, per the Express and Star.

The Hawthorns’ outfit chose against tabling a contract offer as they felt Allardyce was already well equipped with stronger options in Musa’s preferred wide position, while Karlan Grant and Callum Robinson can slot in at striker if needed.

Musa has not played in the English top-flight since Leicester struck a deal to sell the £5.5m-rated dud to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr in 2018, two years after he became the Foxes then club-record signing for £16m.

Much was expected of the ex-CSKA Moscow forward who scored 61 times and provided 33 assists in all competitions for the Russian Side when he joined the Foxes and left Claudio Ranieri amazed after a dazzling run to score a great solo goal against FC Barcelona in the International Champions Cup.

“This is why we paid the money for him,” the Premier League winning coach said.

Yet Leicestershire Live slammed Musa when assessing why his time at the King Power Stadium eventually fell apart, noting how the Nigeran could ‘run the ball straight into touch as though he had been playing Fifa and forgot to let go of the sprint button’.

The publication also noted how his performances never resembled a player whose preferred position was out wide, while his goal-scoring record in the Premier League was appalling as he found the net twice in 21 games.

All from a player who Ranieri dubbed “excellent” and suggested was finally finding his path in the English game after scoring twice from the bench against Everton in an FA Cup tie in 2017.

If Moyes were to sign Musa, West Ham fans would be allowed to expect a similar flop rocking up at the London Stadium to the one Leicester supporters were forced to endure, as being out of the side more than in the starting line-up guaranteed he never found any consistency or the confidence to build on.

That was hardly a surprise when he was going toe-to-toe with Jamie Vardy for the starting gig or Riyad Mahrez on the wing, two players who ran the show at the King Power Stadium.

And would he be expected to displace Michail Antonio, Jarrod Bowen or Said Benrahma in east London if he were to join the Irons? That would be unlikely, especially after months out in the cold and being passed on when allegedly offered to Moyes back in November.

It would be one massive blunder to sign him for the sake of having that additional option.

AND in other news, David Moyes has been sent an instant reminder by a £9m West Ham target…