Pre-season training started today for those players not involved in the World Cup and there will be several unfamiliar faces who haven’t been seen at Rush Green all season turning up again, largely thanks to poor transfer decisions made and long contracts given – another of the legacies of the Sullivan era.
Fullkrug, Ward Prowse and Maxi Cornet are just three of the ‘unwanted yet contracted’ West Ham players who are still paid millions a year despite having no future at the club.
At least Fullkrug and Ward-Prowse do seem to manage to stay fit long enough to contribute at other clubs on loan deals. West Ham will be surely looking for cut price sales on both this summer.
As Yahoo sports put it succinctly, West Ham simply have to bite the bullet and pay off their dreadful 2022 signing:
“West Ham must permanently shift 2022 flop this summer, even if it means striking early contract release”
Enough is enough: Time to jettison Maxi Cornet
…West Ham must shift Maxwel Cornet for good.
One player who must head for the West Ham exit is Maxwel Cornet. The winger has not had anywhere near the impact hoped upon his arrival from Burnley back in the summer of 2022.
Now 29, Cornet is back with WHUFC with a year left on his contract. A career revival seems highly unlikely, and it will be best for all parties that he moves onto pastures new for good.
West Ham can get Cornet’s wages off the books and the player can leave this tough spell of his career in the past. The Championship side can still receive a fee for his services, but in truth, it may be best to come to a mutual contract termination agreement if a sale deal can’t be struck.”
Many spectators have forgotten that Cornet still has a £70k a week West Ham contract until the summer of 2027: Surely whilst the club are dealing with huge losses, take the hit, pay him off and let him find another club. Enough is enough.
“not fit for purpose in Championship” – the odds aren’t good. Let’s see if they do anything of note in the pre-season. Because I’m not keen on paying anyone off.
If they’re on the payroll and can’t be shifted, then use them for training sessions, and U-21 games where a handful of overage players are allowed.
Erm, pretty sure he’ll have a relegation clause for a hefty pay cut MT.
Plus, it’s likely that we’ll need a left sided winger come season start, maybe he’s gonna thrive in the Championship and if he’s doing well then move him on in January if needs be.
Right now, Hammers need players to hit the ground running if we’re going to mount a serious challenge for promotion.
The battle ahead is going to be attritional and several clubs are set fair to sustain a real challenge.
Presently we’re all over the place, but some early indications that come season end we might be in contention.
Trust me on this MT, we’re not going to breeze through the next campaign so several fringe players may have a big role in helping out at Championship level.