What position do they play in? Would they be good enough for the premier league and more importantly are they what our beloved club needs?
To answer all these questions, we've got our very own scout reporting to you, all the way from the land of the rising tulip bulb, Heineken beer and scarcely dressed women behind windows.
WestHamHollandFan will be giving you his view on the players that have been linked with a move to the Hammers.
This week I will be looking at two players who both ply their trade in the Serie A for Italian champions Inter Milan. One is a winger who can also operate as a full back and who has been linked in previous years with the likes of AC Milan, Barcelona and Chelsea, the other a typical number 10, a quick silver skillful passer with an eye for the goal as well. I'm of course talking about Alessandro Faiolhe Amantino (Mancini) and Luis Antonio Jiménez Garces.
Mancini
The Mineiro born and bred winger has been linked for a season long loan to the Hammers from Inter.
Despite only signing for Inter from Roma last summer and starting off like a house on fire with the 'Azzuri' , he had difficulty making the right wing spot his own with competition from veteran Portuguese star Luis Figo, Serbian international Dejan Stankovic and Ricardo Quaresma.
The 6ft tall Brazilian still managed 20 appearances and scored 2 goals. A meager tally considering he scored 58 goals in 221 games for AS Roma from 2003 till 2008.
Mancini's best attributes are his technique, his electrifying pace and his crossing ability. Being both equally at home on the left side of midfield or the right, as well as even being used as a striker and full back during his time at Roma, Mancini would provide Gianfranco Zola's West Ham with a flair and versatility rarely seen nowadays. As well as that, the former Venezia winger would also chip in with some goals and not the ordinary kind of goals either (see link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRrlm5ewjoo ). Once described by AS Roma fans as: il mago (the magician; a title not being give lightly by the demanding Giallorosso fans) West Ham fans can be assured that signing Mancini will improve our first team.
All things considered, Mancini would be an ideal signing for a team and club that wants to play attractive free flowing passing football. The only con that I can think of is the same that is used against almost every foreigner who comes from abroad to the Premier League: can he adapt quickly to the pace and rhythm of the Premier League in order to make an impact? I cannot answer that question with 100% certainty, but from what I've seen of Mancini over the years, playing in the Serie A and the Champions League, I think it is safe to say he will not fall into the category of Dumitrescu, Boogers, Beauchamp a.o.
Rating: 9/10
Luis Jimenez
Another South-American and another Internazionale player, but that is where the comparisons between Jimenez and Mancini end. Jimenez, a Chilean international, is a pure number 10. Where Mancini can play on both wings, as a full back and as a striker, the
He was picked up by Serie B side Ternana Calcio in 2002 and played for them until January 2006. During the January 2006 transfer window Jimenez completed his move to Serie A side Fiorentina in a joint co-ownership with his former club. He would make a total of 19 appearances and score 3 goals for La Viola. Later he would go on loan to Lazio Roma for whom he played 16 games scoring 2 goals.
Inter signed him on a permanent deal in June 2007, after the
His fortunes weren't helped either by an injury which kept him out of the squad for more than 3 months. In total, the Chilean made 21 appearances for Inter scoring 3 goals (one including a penalty against AS Roma for the Italian Super Cup). Having previously made the news in his home country of Chile by boycotting playing for the national team, Jimenez has now returned for Chile but has been on the fringes of the squad for most of the time - A squad which is now in with a real chance of qualifying for the World Cup in South-Africa by the way.
So what can West Ham fans expect from the dark haired Gringo Jimenez? Well like Mancini, flair and skill. Jimenez has the vision to pick out team members in the box and like a former crowd favorite Yossi Benayoun likes to play between the opponents' defense and midfield to unsettle them and to create space for the strikers. Also, Jimenez has been known for his combative character and his ability on taking free kicks and corners (see link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjvi7vosWW8&feature=PlayList&p=69ACD137FB70C775&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=51 ).
West Ham have desperately lacked Benayoun's craft and creativity, but in getting Jimenez, I believe we will have the answer to our problems. Especially if he's backed by two more defensive minded players like Parker and Noble, Jimenez will have the license to go forward and will definitely do so. Carlton Cole or Dean Ashton in particular would benefit from having this player in the starting line-up as his pace and passing ability will come to good use for the two big target men. Though some pessimists will look at the fact that he's been a bit part player at Inter and has had injury problems like stated previously, this does not derail the fact that Jimenez is an outstanding player who will offer us something different in the middle of the park.
Rating: 8/10
Stay tuned for more of Cloggy's review of the players being linked with West Ham.