West Ham Squad Depth Could take Hit With Player Sale
West Ham’s squad could be about to get even thinner as Robert Snodgrass is reportedly close to a move to relegation candidates, West Brom.
Midfielder Robert Snodgrass has been identified as a key target by former West Ham boss Sam Allardyce. The West Brom manager wants to strengthen his faltering Baggies side as they try to avoid relegation.
According to SkySports, West Brom are in ‘advanced talks’ in their efforts to sign the Scottish midfielder from the Hammers. Snodgrass is in the final six months of his contract and can agree to join other clubs for free at the end of the season. The Baggies, however, want to sign the 33-year-old permanently this month.
Snodgrass has fallen down the pecking order with the Hammers this season. The veteran has seen his minutes limited due to the form of Jarrod Bowen on the right-wing. Snodgrass can also play in the central-midfield but faces little chance of displacing either Tomas Soucek or Declan Rice in the first-team.
Due to falling in importance the West Ham see Snodgrass as surplus to requirements and would be happy to see him off the wage bill. If West Brom are to sign Snodgrass on a permanent deal, then the Hammers could receive a nominal fee as well.
Selling Snodgrass could be risky business for the Hammers though. It is well known that the squad depth at the club is very minimal. Without the Scot, Mark Noble would be the only senior back-up to central-midfield and Andriy Yarmolenko only other right-midfielder aside from Bowen.
In a season where players could catch COVID-19 and be forced to miss at least a couple of weeks; thinning a squad out could come back to punish the Hammers. Snodgrass is the perfect squad player for David Moyes, and keeping him should be reconsidered.
The midfielder was signed from Hull City in January 2017 after the sale of Dimitri Payet. Snodgrass only played cameo roles until the end of the season, before being loaned out to Aston Villa for 2017/18. The 33-year-old impressed on loan and earned himself a spot in Manuel Pellegrini’s team and made some brilliant memories in a claret and blue shirt.
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Snodgrass scored fantastic goals against Cyrstal Palace, Fulham, Newcastle and a brace against Brighton last season. The hard-working midfielder has become a fan favourite at the London Stadium and will be remembered well if he is sold.