West Ham can’t allow Chicharito to leave this January
As you’ve no doubt heard, Marko Arnautovic is set to head off to China this January. What West Ham can’t do is lose poacher Javier Hernandez to Valencia in the same month.
When we headed into January I was amongst those saying any action med made would be a bonus, and we shouldn’t panic. Now that our top striker is off to China, it’s a bit more urgent. West Ham need to make sure they don’t lose Chicharito as well.
Whilst he can’t lead the line as well as Arnie, Chicharito is hugely important to the Hammers. He offers an experienced goalscorer option, a man to disrupt the opposition’s defence and someone that can be relied upon to regularly put away chances in the box. And we need to maintain a certain amount of continuity this season.
More from Green Street Hammers - West Ham
- Brighton vs West Ham predictions: Can James Ward-Prowse help end the curse?
- West Ham and two Premier League rivals made huge transfer stand
- Lucas Paqueta bet allegations discussed in West Ham and Man City transfer talks
- Bournemouth vs West Ham predictions: Premier League opener amid transfer chaos
- West Ham near Denis Zakaria transfer after final James Ward-Prowse bid
With the Hammers making a solid attempt at pushing up the table this season, losing Arnie is a bitter blow. This year has been truly positive, and not in the way of the last season at the Boleyn which was a long goodbye, but one that we can build on. If we had kept Arnie for the end of the season I have no doubt we would have been better off. But if he’s leaving that’s irrelevant.
Chicharito offers a tried and tested player off the bench or in a partnership, and I have no doubt he is a leader in the dressing room having been around the big teams at big points. Losing him now disrupts our playing plans and the dressing room feel, even if we go big and sign a marquee striker like Maxi Gomez. The fact that the rumours are linking him on loan as well, that’s just something the Hammers can’t allow to happen. He’s too valuable for that.
Next. Irons Chasing Maxi Gomez amid Barca interest. dark
If West Ham let this season fall apart now they could see a lot of players leaving in the summer as well, and there’s no way Pellegrini will leave a stone unturned if he can keep this season’s progress going. So unless we get a loan striker in, and make a big striker signing, Hernandez has to stay. I just can’t see this season remaining on course otherwise.