Pedro Obiang may leave West Ham, but replacement will come in
West Ham could be allowing midfielder Pedro Obiang to leave this summer. But Pellegrini has promised replacements if players leave.
The Premier League is creeping up now, and many teams want their players settled. West Ham have made a number of good signings, and Pellegrini is keen to keep the squad at its current strength, if not improve it. His comments yesterday prove his desire for the squad to not weaken prior to the Liverpool match.
In a press conference, he was coy about the departure of the defensive midfielder, but was adamant his squad would only get stronger between now and the start of the season.
"“We are trying to build a good squad,” said Pellegrini. “We have seven new players, also three important players injured so we don’t know when they will return. The last day that we have time to bring players, we will try to build as strong a squad as we can. I don’t talk about anything. If for some reason, Pedro must go then there will be a replacement,” he added."
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Between the lines
If you want to take Pellegrini’s words as written, the Hammers are in the market for more players. With the number of new players they have, you have to imagine there’s not too many that will cost a lot. However, he doesn’t want to sell Obiang.
Various rumours around social media have suggested that there are three or four other players that he does want to sell, and one in the same position. Byram, Hugill, Antonio and Kouyate have all been rumoured to be on the potential exit list, and if we have to sell a defensive midfielder I would very much like to sell Kouyate before Obiang. No question about it.
Obiang will fit into Pellegrini’s passing style, and knows what his role is. Kouyate is liable to have some great games, but then go missing at vital times. His inability to track runners back into the box has hurt the Hammers on multiple occasions, and his technical ability is constantly under question.
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However ExWhuEmployee has suggested that if a good offer comes in, the Hammers will take that and go back into the market. Could we be on the verge of a complete squad revolution? West Ham could look completely different after this transfer window.