Fans will be fervently hoping that a last day miracle rescues West Ham United from the drop into the Championship: Tough enough having to beat Leeds but then knowing that Everton need to beat Tottenham at the same time means that only the most rabid optimists will be getting their hopes up of a Hammers’ reprieve.
The realists amongst West Ham supporters will probably be already prepared for the worst and for the inevitable player exodus that will follow during the summer. Big names, of course, will be high on competitor shopping lists, especially for those who shine on international duty next month.
If West Ham fail to survive, the list of players likely to quit or be sold is growing at an alarming rate
Fans will harbour hopes that several, especially those not involved in the World Cup and less attractive in the summer transfer window may stay and help the Irons launch a promotion campaign next season if relegation is to be the clubs’ destiny. Jarrod Bowen, (we wish) Tomas Soucek, Kyle Walker Peters and Dinos Mavropanos would probably be at the top of supporters’ “please stay” wish lists, accepting the reality that Fernandes and Summerville would be picked off pretty swiftly when the window opens.
Taty Castellanos would surely be another fan choice as a player well equipped to succeed in the Championship: Trouble is, he has no plans to remain at West Ham if the club do fall through the Premier League trapdoor. At least, that’s the claim from sportwitness.co.uk today, who write:
“Italian journalist Marco Mampreso now claims Castellanos has no intention of playing in the Championship if West Ham go down. Relegation is not mathematically confirmed yet, of course. But not even his wonder goal against Newcastle could make a difference in this fight.
The Hammers are hanging by a thread and the situation is already sparking transfer chatter around the squad.
According to the report, Castellanos is “destined” to leave London after only six months if the drop becomes official. That naturally puts a few markets on alert straight away.
As we covered last week, the sportwitness report suggests ‘clubs in Italy’ are interested in Taty but – first in the queue are Lucas Paqueta’s Brazilian side:
“Flamengo are once again being linked with the Argentine striker after admiring him long before his move to West Ham.”
Which makes the numbers reported as ‘preparing to quit’ or ‘likely to be sold’ now in double digits. And it makes for one huge challenge simply trying to cobble together a side of squad ‘remnants’, academy players, loanees and free signings ready to take on the likes of Southampton and Millwall come August. Gulp.
The fact is we are not consistently good enough even with the players that apparently every other team wants. No matter if we go down or manage to stay up we need a total overhaul and if we didn’t already know it this season has opened our eyes at how badly run we are,the numerous managers,the panic buying and the lack of complete structure,it’s got to change for the long time good.Yes I hope we stay up but let’s not think all is well because it isn’t.
COYI