West Ham’s financial gloom will be slightly by the departure of both Pablo Zabaleta and Carlos Sanchez when they come to the end of their contract in June.
Neither will command a fee but Zabaleta – on around £3.7 million a year wages will be a major loss off the wage bill along with Carlos Sanchez, whose £50k a week equates to another £2.4 million a year.
It may be only a small inroad into the over £37 million debt the club expects to incur but it’s welcome and could be followed by more savings should they manage to move on four others.
They will be looking for buyers for Albian Ajeti who commands a yearly salary of close to £2 million a year and would hope that Queens Park Rangers make Jordan Hugill’s move permanent following his 13 goals in 37 appearances so far this term.
They would love to believe that they will see the back of goalkeeper Roberto – currently at Alaves on loan but without a game to his name. That looks unlikely although there may be a pay off for David Martin following the arrival of Darren Randolph.
And finally should they decide that Jeremy Ngakia and Ben Johnson will fight out the right back position Ryan Fredericks could be sold saving another £2 million a yer.
If – in a perfect world – they were all to move in it would see the Hammers offset their overall debt by a loss of wages in the region of £16 million annually.
