Top prospect and U-19 Euro winner Domingos Quina has moved on from West Ham. Are the Hammers missing out on a top European prospect, or are they dodging a potential bullet by moving out the wantaway player?
A deadline deal that has largely gone under the radar, West Ham United sold teen prospect Domingos Quina to Premier League combattant Watford. Quina missed West Ham’s pre-season tour and his opportunity to impress new first team manager Manuel Pellegrini as he was playing with Portugal’s U-19 Euro winning team.
Along with a trophy Quina brought home this terrific goal scored against Italy that saw him belt in a ball that he dribbled through defenders at the top of the box. This skill was also mirrored in his half-way line chip in PL2 against Leicester City’s team last season.
These kinds of highlight are exactly what West Ham supporters were sold when the club scooped up this promising prospect from Chelsea’s academy in 2016. He has the raw ability and talent to change a game with one well-placed boot. So, West Ham must be miffed to have lost out on this top prospect then? Not quite so.
Quina and former top prospect Reece Oxford share a player agent who seems to like stirring up big-club transfer news and interest. For Quina, these links have included Barcelona, PSG, and Manchester United. While the legitimacy of these rumors is unconfirmed, the agent appears to be seeking high-value moves to line his pockets.
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Quina only had one year remaining on his West Ham contract and had apparently made up his mind about not re-signing in East London, as discussed by ExWHUEMployee, Dave Walker, and Kevin Slade on the West Ham Way Podcast. The player may be fine but the aforementioned dodged bullet may be attributed to this manager, hence the lack of reaction by club and supporters when Quina signed away.
As a prospect for West Ham Quina always promised more than he performed. He played in 38 games within West Ham’s team: Premier League 2- 27, EFL Trophy- 5, EFL Cup- 3, Europa League Qualifying- 2, FA Cup- 1. He has only scored or assisted in the PL2 and managed just three goals and two assists total.
The ambition exemplified in this window by West Ham’s owners have solidified one thing – West Ham is a buying club, not a selling one. With Pellegrini at the helm, and his Director of Football Mario Husillos actively working on the squad, a player like Quina (and his agent), who demands the world before proving they were worth it, being moved on from should be a vote of confidence for this club.
On the other end of the transfer, Quina was moved to Watford, not United, Barca, or PSG. Watford does need an attacker to fill in for Richarlison, however, Quina is an attacking mid opposed to a winger. As well, Roberto Pereyra’s opening game brace from the midfield may be a strike against Quina factoring into the Hornets side any time soon.
The player is gone and West Ham seems unaffected by the loss. Onwards and upwards with the proven attacking options West Ham have to boast, plus the exciting youngsters who had passed Quina on the depth chart.