Samir Nasri’s hopes of landing a second contract with the Hammers at the end of the season appear to be fading with every successive game.
The midfielder has been absent since appearing as a second half sub against Huddersfield and is likely to be missing again this weekend for the match at Spurs.
Although he is a big favourite of manager Manuel Pellegrini, the chance of him being handed the £80k a week deal he is after for a second year looks a non starter at the moment.
We were told this morning by a senior insider on e mail that he is once again a big doubt for the game against Spurs which leaves him just three more games to stake a realistic claim for a second contract.
However, the reality is that such a development now looks very doubtful indeed and he probably hasn’t enough time to convince the manager anyway and a dip into the transfer or loan market for a replacement is more likely this summer.
I’m finding Nasri’s injury problems incredibly frustrating. In the glimpses we’ve seen, he looks like he could make a real difference to the squad. Does he actually want to be at West Ham? Perhaps he was just getting his name back out there. Even if that’s the case, he’s not really been available enough to impress any watching clubs.
If he is keen to stay, maybe a pay as you play deal could be agreed to be reviewed in December and if he’s been fit and available for 80% of the games, we could give him something better. As things stand, it would probably be foolish to give him a permanent deal.
Agree: offer him a short term contract that can be converted into a longer permanent one subject to games played. A quality passer desperately needed by Hammers, but must avoid another Wiltshire / Carroll scenario.
Yet another waste …what is it with us and injuries. ..he hasn’t played so were do the injuries happen, training???