Why 'AVB' would be a quality addition for West Ham

This year seemingly more than any other, there are a good number of quality free agents on the market for Premier League clubs to still consider.

Michael Owen was one who was snapped up after deadline day, another was Swansea's new right-back Dwight Tiendalli, formerly of Twente.

Reports have suggested West Ham are looking at bringing in another, former Portsmouth player Anthony vanden Borre, who is still just 24, who shares his initials with Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas.

He is a versatile player, capable of playing at right-back or on the right-wing, and who has Champions League experience.

Born in the Congo, he grew up in Belgium, for who he plays internationally, with 22 caps to his name, the last of those coming last November, and was part of the Belgian side which won Bronze at the 2008 Olympic Games.

He made his name as a youngster at Anderlecht, where he was one of the most highly young rated players in Europe. He made his debut at just 16, and along with Vincent Kompany he was tipped for the very top.

Kompany has so far fulfilled that potential, and Vanden Borre has not, but the talent is still clearly there, he surely needs a lucky break.

Anderlecht cashed in on him in 2007 selling him to Fiorentina, but six months later he found himself loaned to Genoa where he would spend 18 months.

After just 33 appearances in Serie A during this period, he found himself in the Premier League, signed on loan by Portsmouth boss Paul Hart.

He made 23 starts for the club, who were at the beginning of a slide after their FA Cup win just over a season earlier, and by time Paul Hart took over from Tony Adams, the club were really in peril on and off the pitch as financial troubles began to bite.

Vanden Borre would score just the once for Portsmouth in a cup game against Carlisle, but provided two assists, against Aston Villa and Arsenal.

After that he returned to his native Belgium with Genk on a two-year deal. After a slow start in his first season, last year he began to find his feet again.

He made 35 appearances, including being part of a Genk side which held Chelsea in the Champions League, managed by the other AVB, to a 1-1 draw in Belgium, even if they lost the return 5-0 at Stamford Bridge.

He remains a free agent after a new deal was not agreed, and Lazio are one of the clubs rumoured to have been taking a look at him. It may well be that West Ham are his best option.

While he knows both Italian and English football, Sam Allardyce is a manager reputed for getting the best out of talented players whose careers have started to slide.

It is just what he needs. The defender tipped as one of Europe's most promising still has plenty of good years ahead of him, and he would add good depth to the Hammers squad. The Mirror claimed on Wednesday that he was in London to discuss a deal with the club, and even if it is a short-term one-year deal, it might just prove to be worthwhile for both player and club.

Would you like to see West Ham sign Vanden Borre? Do they need him?

image: © Tom Cuppens