With PSR and wages-to-income ratios now dictating finances, some clubs with boated player numbers will seek to trim their own payrolls by offering players out on loan deals such as the ‘Arsenal – Chelsea – Sterling’ arrangement last August.
Many players who have signed for some of the largest clubs find themselves frozen out from the main squad, their career in limbo, with opportunity seemingly passing them by: Some would say it is the price the paid for joining clubs like Chelsea where ‘career’ is arguably sacrificed in exchange for a huge salary.
Several such players, outside the match – day squad, would be excellent options for West Ham United: To pick up high-calibre players from the loan market with parent clubs like Chelsea subsidising part of their wage packet makes excellent financial sense. Remember the impact of ‘that’ initial loan spell of Jesse Lingard who came with a point to prove?
Tim Steidten has a limited budget and salary capacity to work with so a loan could make excellent sense until the future of some of our own ‘long term loaned’ out trio is certain: Aguerd, Cornet and Ward-Prowse, as it stands, are all due back to West Ham come June next year.
Finding another motivated, fringe player could be a ‘win-win’. West Ham have been linked with one such International, in the shape of Ben Chilwell.
Crazy as it seems for The Hammers to be considering an England international, £50 million player on a loan- but he is ‘desperate’ to leave Stamford Bridge to get his career on track according to a report in tbrfootball.com .
According to the report, Chelsea would now be amenable to an 18 month loan which would suit both parties: The same motivation which ‘magicked’ Raheem Sterling away from Chelsea on deadline day could see Chilwell move to another club in January, desperate as he is to play regular Premier League football.
Would he be an asset to West Ham? At Just 27 the left back could solve a big issue for Lopetegui if Emerson fails to maintain his improved trajectory.
There seem more pressing needs in January, though, with Emerson, Cresswell and make-shift Wan Bissaka able to carry the left side if needs be.
Perhaps a better option would be to ‘pass’ on Chilwell and concentrate on the more pressing issues of a front man under thirty and a creative midfielder.
For Every Phillips there is a Lingard
For every Lingard there is a Phillips