West Ham United update emerges as unhappy Vladimiar Coufal and exit-bound Thilo Kehrer missing vs Brighton
Vladimir Coufal and Thilo Kehrer are both missing from the West Ham matchday squad to face Brighton due to illness, according to Jack Rosser.
The Sun journalist reported via Twitter on 2 January, ahead of kick-off against the Seagulls, the update on the pair of Hammers defenders after their names were not included in the 20 selected by David Moyes.
Both are facing questions over their future at the London Stadium but neither have apparently missed this game for that reason.
Kehrer is reportedly on the brink of a loan move to Monaco that could become a permanent departure [Fabrizio Romano, 2 January], while Coufal is said to be unhappy with his West Ham contract and will look to leave if it is not improved after the club triggered an extension on his current deal [Sky Sports, 2 January].
Out of the firing line?
After the recent updates that suggest the German is set to leave imminently and the Czech may follow before long it could be a useful coincidence for West Ham that there is an alternative explanation for leaving them both out.
Kehrer has rarely featured in the Premier League for Moyes this term, having made just four appearances in the top flight so far, so his absence won’t be felt too obviously.
But Coufal has been virtually ever-present, having started every league game so far this season and only missed a few minutes at the tail end of the defeat by Manchester City on 16 September.
If there is trouble brewing behind the scenes with the 31-year-old then it would necessarily have a much greater impact on the manager’s set up, with Ben Johnson drafted into the line-up in his place for the Brighton clash.
West Ham are thought to be looking at full-back signings in January already, but triggering Coufal’s extension suggests the Irons continue to have plans for him.
However, if they aren’t willing to increase his wages over the remaining 18 months of the contract then a replacement may need to be found this month in addition to the new arrivals that were already planned.
In other West Ham news, a nine-figure transfer update has emerged amid interest in a major star man.