With Lucas Paquetá claiming a ‘back injury’ and unable to take part in their relegation battle, decision time looms for Nuno and David Sullivan. Whilst the leadership at West Ham will not lie being blackmailed by a player who wants out and appears to have’downed tools’ in an effort to force a move, the Hammers have already seen what ‘life after Lucas’ looks like from their away win yesterday.
Of course, at his best he’d be a big miss but we haven’t seen that for nearly two years. Time to wave him good bye and knit the squad together . Anyone like Paquetá who doesn’t have the stomach for a grim and grimy relegation battle just needs to be shown the door. Especially if there’s £35 million quid incoming!
West Ham appear to have found their playmaker, according to transfer expert journalist Alan Nixon. The midfielder in question, Paris FC’s Ilan Kebbal, is described as ‘sensational’ and has, according to Nixon, a modest price tag of around £12 million. The Hammers have history with Paris having brought Mohamadou Kanté from the French side and then loaned him back.
Ilan Kebbal – on West Ham’s wishlist to replace Lucas Paquetá
Kebbal has a pretty impressive season to date with six goals and four assists and a successful AFCON, reaching the quarter finals with Algeria. However he’s primarily listed as a ‘left footed (inside) right winger ‘-and we do seem to have one of those already – but he does play centrally too. Haven’t seen him play so he’s one to watch – perhaps.
Interesting indeed that the same journalist confirms yet again West Ham’s continued ambition to land Adama Traore for Nuno. With just two weeks left of the window, most Hammers fans would rather see a defensive upgrade- on which everything seems to have gone very quiet.
On the YouTube reels looks like he plays all over the front line, looks very good but then it only shows the best bits, a lot of the clips were him attacking from the centre, hard to know what he is like without the ball. For the money though would be excellent buy as utility as well as potentially starting, we have no cover for Bowen or Summerville as it stands.
Why the hell are we not getting in a proper unit as a centre back either, has all the feels of Sullivan last minute loan options that are probably worse than Igor.
With the Paqueta deal we should definitely push for Gonzalo Plata and the money if they are significantly short or alternatively just hold out and refuse to let him go, at the lower end of the money they are offering it’s better to keep him and make a deal that at that price we can do a deal for him to leave at the end of the season and not before. Hopefully if he knows it is agreed and he will be returning he might start playing again.
Bye bye LUCAS THEQUITTA
Bowen will be sold once we get relegated so makes sense to find a replacement now.
Kebbal kind of reminds me of Summerville the way he plays yet he plays on the right wing in Bowens position. Likes to cut in from the right like Bowen into the middle and shoot for the left corner of the goal. I wouldn’t have thought they’d be buying him as a Paqueta replacement but who knows.
Mass exodus continues.
Latest is Rodriguez, possibly Killman and Prowse.
Haven’t included Paquetta as he continues to be an unknown quantity.
Where does this leave Nuno’s squad? Light.
Already comments about squad looking knackered after Spurs game.Whose coming in?
Gabriel (21), Nyakossi (22) utility player, Arrey-Mbi (22), Mingueza (26), Lucumi (27).
Or the oldies Dier / Kante / Pinnock utility player these are just a few.
Another recent addition is Lookman could almost be direct replacement for Paquetta.
Both on £150,000 a week and transfer fees are both £43m (hopefully).
Whu unlikely to pay £7m for Traore no matter how much Nuno wants him.
Defenders (c/bks) not goalkeeper are top of pecking order.
Whatever outcome is time diminishing and squad will be left thread bare.
Definitely need cover for Bowen, but 2 CBs first. Probably one for the summer, as even if we stay up, Sullivan will likely let Bowen go if only to “balance” the books.
In terms of a West Ham comparison, he reminds me more of Kudus. At a quick glance I think he could bring a bit of creativity to the team.
Bowen plays 90 mins every week incl cup games and looks like he could do with a rest. We need another winger anyway as otherwise it’s hard to inject energy from the bench
Kilman to Palace. You know it makes sense!!