As Roma eye Angelo Ogbonna, West Ham should enquire about Juan Jesus

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AS Roma want to sign Angelo Ogbonna from West Ham United, as reported by Calciomercato, via Football Italia.

The defender has supposedly made it onto the Serie A club’s transfer shortlist ahead of the looming January window.

Ogbonna has been demoted to the substitutes’ bench in recent weeks by Manuel Pellegrini, with Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena’s partnership going from strength to strength.

Ogbonna has made just two starts in the Premier League – against Liverpool and Bournemouth in the first two games of the season.

Since then, he’s managed just 10 minutes of game time across two substitute appearances in the league.

It looks like his future could perhaps be in some doubt, especially as he still harbours hopes of playing for Italy, for which he needs to be playing regularly.

With Roma, along with AC Milan, wanting to sign him, West Ham should consider replacing him in the same phase.

Juan Jesus an ideal replacement

West Ham should consider asking for defender Juan Jesus in return.

The Brazilian, who earned four caps for his country between 2012-13, is a similar player to Ogbonna in a similar situtation.

He is on the fringes for most of the time, playing second fiddle to Kostas Manolas and Federico Fazio.

That said, he has had more game time than Ogbonna has at West Ham, and would be an upgrade on the ex-Torino and Juventus player.

Jesus, like Ogbonna, is left-footed which would be ideal for balance.

He is strong, fast and can also operate at left back if needed.

He is valued at £11.7 million by Transfermarkt, and even a few million over that figure could make this a worthwhile deal for West Ham. Ominously, he doesn’t have along contract, with his current deal running out in the summer of 2020.