West Ham are struggling to find buyers for Robert Snodgrass and Jose Fonte given the wages of around £60k a week both players are picking up .
The club are keen to see a club come in for the Scotland international who cost them £6.8 million in January and would also allow the disappointing Portuguese central defender – bought for £8 million – to leave given the emergence of Declan Rice.
Both signings came in at a time when the Hammers were seriously struggling for form last winter but have failed to impress and it could easily be that approaching £15 million worth of players are destined for the bench.
Fonte again received very mixed reviews on his appearance against Manchester City and it wasn’t until Rice appeared in the second half – along with Hernandez – that the Hammers showed any signs of improvement and offensive intent.
Leeds, Brighton and Huddersfield are understood to have shown an interest in Snodgrass, 29, but have so far failed to move given his wages.
Fonte, 33, will prove even more difficult to move on having signed a contract with the club until 2019.
Are we surprised – we had a bad summer last year and equally bad winter. In any case I am hopeful this summer will be an improvement. I believe we need 2-3 players. We need a top CH to replace Fonte. Ideally a player who can play in a back 3 as a sweeper. We need a left winger to replace Snodgrass – a young up an coming player. And we need a midfielder, technically good and who can score someone to compliment Kouyate or Obiang in the centre of midfield.
We struggled to survive last season and were fortunate not to get completely sucked into relegation . We got away with it due to a few good results and some teams being actually worse than us . Given our list of casualties finishing 11th was flattering . Injuries forced us to ” panic buy ” and now we are seemingly stuck with it . The continuity between Masuaku and Fonte was awful , whilst Snodgrass looks completely lost . Luckily we won’t have to face teams of Man Cities quality every week and we have time to improve .
My thinking is we desperately need someone to cover and assist Lanzini, if he gets injured.
We will have no creativity at all, unless Fehgouli stays, which is something I wouldn’t mind.
I think the Feghouli deal to Galatasary might finally be going thru. He wasn’t in squad and some articles are claiming personal has been agreed and fee now. I’d rather him stay then Snod but they will have to take a loss on Snodgrass.
And I think Ryad Boudebouz is Perfect and to good to Miss to bring in to help Lanzini and can cover Antonio on RW. If Feg is gone another space and for £11m or less this guy is creating above the Best.
We are apparently keen on Lemina which I am not sure about if we want a young CM Maximilian Anrold same age but much more productive and experienced.
It is only the very rich clubs that can afford like for like cover for every/(most) position(s).
The best the likes of West Ham can hope for is an injury-free run for their ‘best 11’.
That is the only chance they have of staying up, let alone winning anything.
The imperative is a good start to the season (a la 2015-16) which, with 3 away games to start and too many of the ‘best 11’ still injured, is hardly likely.
The good thing is that only 3 get relegated.
I would appoint Hart captain; his was the only voice heard yesterday and it is the defence which most lacks leadership and organisation.
The current policy seems to be to hope more goals can be scored than conceded.
The main thing is to get the squad right in August to prevent the farcical January fire-fight.
Loan them out and pay some of their salaries if you have too, plenty of clubs would appreciate them at the right price.