As West Ham end the season, we’re usually worried about losing the players we’ve spent big on in previous windows. But my plan would be to actively move those players on, for the good of the club and the players.
In the past couple of transfer windows, West Ham has spent on supposed key players. Felipe Anderson and Sebastien Haller were record transfers, and whilst both have shown glimpses of promise, they have ultimately proven too inconsistent/hard to utilise to be worth the big bucks paid for them. So this summer window should see them move on.
Now before everyone has a go at me, I’m not calling for them to be sold at the first bid that comes in. But I do think the money they could raise could be spent elsewhere in the squad to bring us forward a touch and real progress in the Premier League.
Anderson’s speed would be a huge asset to any side, including ours, but we don’t have enough other danger men to give him the space he craves or to carry him when he’s not at his best. Haller would be great in a strike partnership, but not as a sole striker in the system we are sticking to.
Between them, they could probably raise over 60m in this transfer market, which if we invested on domestic players who are actually going to fit our system (rather than just players we like the look of) would be a brilliant return. Although I’m not certain we’ll see that happen this summer, as the board are known for trying their best to ensure a return on spending.
The most likely of the two to leave is Anderson, given that he has been here a couple of years and has not shown the capability of taking us into the promised land of European football. Haller, having only been bought last season, is likely to stay. At least he will offer a potential change-up in style from time to time and is a solid finisher.
To those who would like to see us hold onto these big-money players, take a look at some of the other teams doing well. Sheffield United have invested in those that fit the system, not just flashy highlight reels, Southampton consistently replenishes the talent that gets taken, whilst Brentford in the Championship looks to have a repeatable system as well. The big money players are great when they’re working for you, but getting a squad together is more important. We’re currently disjointed and have too many weak areas, and selling these two would help get over that.