West Ham’ decision to hand out long term contracts to various players is coming back to haunt them in a big way.
The club needs desperately to unload certain individuals but the decision to give them improved deals over a number of years to protect their values in the market has fallen flat on its face given Covid19.
There was huge surprise among some fans when both Arthur Masuaku and Aaron Cresswell received new deals which took them to 2024 and 2023 respectively.
That was done to ensure the Hammers received decent offers but in reality it has meant the club has made a rod for its own back.
For those two – along with Manu Lanzini whose contract runs out in 2023 – will be reluctant to move on should offers come in given they will have to take pay cuts in the current circumstances of anything up to 30 per cent on likely 
earnings of around £60k a week plus.
Injury stricken Winston Reid is another who is in contract until 2023 and with the problems he has experienced unlikely to ever see first team action again or able to join a club on anything like the salary he now commands.
I think most supporters couldn’t understand the deals at the time, and no one still can understand them.
Would be interested to see who the agents are for these players ?
There is an answer. Sell them. Sell cheap if you have to, but sell. Want you lose one way you recoup in wages.
Hindsight is a great thing. I don’t think any of us were that disappointed when Reid, Cresswell & Manu were tied down as the vultures were circling for them at the time. They’d all been playing brilliantly at that moment in time. Our injury curse did for Reid and Lanzini and maybe multiple managers haven’t helped Cresswell. That said, it’s always a risk giving out long and expensive contracts.
Hindsight is a great thing. I don’t think any of us were that disappointed when Reid, Cresswell & Manu were tied down as the vultures were circling for them at the time. They’d all been playing brilliantly at that moment in time. Our injury curse did for Reid and Lanzini and maybe multiple managers haven’t helped Cresswell. That said, it’s always a risk giving out long and expensive contracts.
Easy to be critical of decisions made based upon past realities. They can play our Cup draws and earn their keep while our first team rests.
Value is a perception based on information available…… Lanzini (£70k)isn’toverpaid when compared to Mesut Ozil at £350k per week.
Check out this for where WHU stand in wage bills:
https://www.spotrac.com/epl/west-ham-united-fc/payroll/