New West Ham United contract on cards for yet another player
Angelo Ogbonna may be offered a new contract by West Ham at the end of the season after his recent performances under David Moyes, according to Claret & Hugh.
The West Ham news source reported on 3 January that a new deal is now a possibility for the 35-year-old whose current deal is set to expire at the end of the season.
Ogbonna has been used more than expected this season after Kurt Zouma’s injury issues and Nayef Aguerd’s absence and looks set for even more game time with the latter off to the African Cup of Nations.
He has earned a deal
While his age doesn’t make him an ideal option on paper, and the Hammers may look to bring in sturdier backups to their star players, Ogbonna’s performances in recent weeks have earned him a new deal.
This follows a trend of new contracts being offered based on performances rather than other factors such as age and sell-on value which can often be the focus, with a potential new deal for Ogbonna coming after the Hammers opted to extend Lukasz Fabianksi’s stay in East London.
Despite his age, the Italian has proved he can still perform as a reliable backup the the first-choice options at the London Stadium, as he helped West Ham to keep back-to-back clean sheets in the Premier League against Arsenal and Brighton.
It is clear David Moyes trusts the Italian defender and is willing to lean on him when necessary, with his experience and know-how lending itself to the deep block employed by the boss, particularly in the games against Arsenal and Brighton.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers have suffered yet another injury blow.