Green Street Hammers
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West Ham must move on from Midfield duo this window

By Adam Smith

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 29: Carlos Sanchez of West Ham United looks on prior to the Premier League 2 match between West Ham United and Everton at London Stadium on April 29, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Harriet Lander/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 29: Carlos Sanchez of West Ham United looks on prior to the Premier League 2 match between West Ham United and Everton at London Stadium on April 29, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Harriet Lander/Getty Images) /
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IPSWICH, ENGLAND – JULY 28: Pedro Obiang of West Ham United during the pre-season friendly match between Ipswich Town and West Ham United at Portman Road on July 28, 2018 in Ipswich, England. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)
IPSWICH, ENGLAND – JULY 28: Pedro Obiang of West Ham United during the pre-season friendly match between Ipswich Town and West Ham United at Portman Road on July 28, 2018 in Ipswich, England. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images) /

Pedro Obiang

I’ve always loved this photo of Obiang, it shows what he was known for as a defensive midfielder under Bilic, but incites recent shivers since Super Slav left the team. Once a prolific tackler who would win possession back for a motivated team, Pedro Obiang’s performances at West Ham slipped with the team’s ambition following the move to the London Stadium.

He was part of a defensive midfield triumvirate with Mark Noble and Cheikhou Kouyate for the Bilic-era Hammers and looked a steal of a player when he signed for West Ham in 2016 for approximately £5m. Now Obiang is 27-years-old and hasn’t taken any of the many opportunities he has been provided to win a permanent spot in the midfield.

He also wants to return to Italy with clubs interested. Sussuolo is waiting in the wings for the Hammers to return from China to seal a deal that should double the investment in the player, but it will feel like a missed opportunity on a once-promising player.

We will always have the wonder strike goal he scored in a 1-1 draw in January of 2018 against Tottenham. The shot will live in infamy as keeper Hugo Lloris couldn’t do anything to stop the thunderbolt, nutmegging shot from Obiang that soared into the top corner of the net. I don’t think there will be any hard feelings from supporters to Obiang. Go home, lad, and enjoy some Italian football again!