David Moyes was appointed at the turn of the year tasked with preserving West Ham United‘s Premier League status. After dismantling Norwich City 4-0 this weekend, his side sit six points clear of the relegation zone with three games remaining – safety all but assured.
However, whilst the club’s performances in recent matches indicate that happier times may lie ahead, a squad rebuild is essential to push on next season. With a summer clear out on the Scot’s hands, here are the players the Hammers should sell in the upcoming transfer window.
Players West Ham United Should Sell This Summer
Time to Say Goodbye
Already freeing up some space on the wage bill, three players left the club at the end of June. Veterans Pablo Zabaleta and Carlos Sanchez, having reached the end of their useful days, let their contracts expire whilst 19-year old defender Jeremy Ngakia rejected offers of a new contract to court first-team football elsewhere.
Three players down, but there are still many more who need to go.
Goalkeepers
Roberto
Lukasz Fabianski’s injury was the beginning of the end for Manuel Pellegrini’s tenure. The Polish keeper had conceded just eight goals in seven matches before succumbing to a hip injury against Bournemouth. His Spanish understudy, signed from Espanyol to replace Adrian, let in 17 goals in eight appearances. From his 43rd minute debut at the Vitality Stadium to his final appearance against Crystal Palace on Boxing Day, West Ham won just two points with Roberto in goal and Moyes has since re-signed Darren Randolph to provide injury cover. The Spaniard is currently on loan at Deportiva Alaves (one win, five defeats) and a report from Sam Inkersole of football.london claims the Hammers will try to sell Roberto permanently this summer, if they can.
Defenders
Winston Reid
Winston Reid is a loyal servant of the club. Since 2010 he has been arguably West Ham’s stand out centre back and was a first-team regular until two seasons ago. Unfortunately, a series of knee injuries have kept the New Zealander out of contention since March 2018 and he now finds himself behind Angelo Ogbonna, Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena in the pecking order. Reid remains on loan at Sporting Kansas City until the end of the season but will likely find himself surplus to requirements on his return.
Issa Diop
The Frenchman is arguably the most surprising name on this list. Signed from Toulouse in 2018, Diop courted interest from many top sides after a stand-out first season in claret and blue. Fast forward 12 months and it’s like watching a different player. Lazy, ill-disciplined, and prone to lapses in concentration, the 23-year-old has looked shaky on and off the ball, most glaringly against Chelsea when his clumsy challenge gifted Frank Lampard’s side a penalty. Angelo Ogbonna has spared his blushes on too many occasions and if Moyes can line up a replacement then he should be shown the door. Rumours back in January from The Guardian’s John Brewin suggested that Chelsea were interested in Diop.
Arthur Masuaku
Unable to usurp Aaron Cresswell at left-back and with no room for wingbacks in Moyes’ favoured 4-3-3 system, there simply isn’t space at the London Stadium for 26-year-old Arthur Masuaku. Early on in his West Ham career, he was invaluable. However, his recent performances have been inconsistent and spiritless. Cresswell might not be the better defender but he more than makes up for it in attitude and attacking flair. Dispensing with the Frenchman would free up £40,000 a week that could go towards a more versatile defender.
Midfielders
Jack Wilshere
Jack Wilshere would be one of the more financially beneficial departures. The former Arsenal midfielder has started just six matches from a possible 72 matches for West Ham whilst collecting £100,000 a week. Injuries have stalled the 28-year old’s promising career, but the club should be spending those wages elsewhere. Let him drain someone else’s coffers and sign a playmaker worth that price.
Forwards
Albian Ajeti
Swiss striker Albian Ajeti arrived at West Ham with his stock high – he had three consecutive 25+ goal seasons in Switzerland, nine caps for the national team and was only 22-years-old. However, after an unsuccessful first year in London, that stock has plummeted. Yet to register a start in the Premier League, Ajeti has been afforded a mere 139 league minutes (six of those under Moyes) and three cup matches to prove himself. He clearly doesn’t fit Moyes’ vision so, for the sake of his own career, why hang on?
Felipe Anderson
Felipe Anderson joins a growing list of disappointing attacking signings by the Hammers. He promised so much in 2018/19 with nine goals and four assists but has well and truly succumbed to second season syndrome. On the pitch he barely seems interested, no longer driving at defenders and shooting from all over the park. When he’s not on the pitch, West Ham don’t miss him. If he can’t break into the first 11 against the likes of Jarrod Bowen, Pablo Fornals and an out of form Manuel Lanzini, how will he compete against any new signings? It’s time to cash in before his value decreases too much.
Notable Omissions
Several players are clinging onto their West Ham future by the skin of their teeth, most notably Andriy Yarmolenko and Lanzini. Earning £115k a week, the former is ripe for departure but deserves a stay of execution until January to see if he can recapture his earlier form. Lanzini, meanwhile, is still on his way back from a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury and is retained purely for nostalgia.
West Ham’s survival is all but confirmed. With generous home fixtures against Watford and Aston Villa, it’s nearly time for Moyes to take the champagne out of the ice. However, the celebrations can’t go on too long as the Scot has a serious rebuilding job on his hands if the Hammers are to avoid a similar relegation fight next season.
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