West Ham United must look to offer new deal to Conor Coventry
David Moyes has suggested that Conor Coventry had opportunities to leave West Ham in the summer.
The 22-year-old midfielder has barely featured for the senior side, but David Moyes gave him an opportunity in the 1-0 win against Silkeborg.
The Hammers boss has hailed him as a “great competitor” and wants him to stay at the club.
Coventry has a contract at the club until next year, and the Hammers must offer him a new deal.
He has got a great attitude. He works extremely hard in training with other senior players, and Moyes described him as “low maintenance”.
“Conor had plenty of chances to leave but we wanted him to stay. He is such a good lad and a good trainer. He is a great competitor,” said Moyes, as quoted by Claret and Hugh.
“He is the captain of the Republic of Ireland Under-21s. We had Josh Cullen who is very similar here. Went to Anderlecht and Burnley. Playing for the full Republic team. Wouldn’t surprise me if Conor followed the same path. He is doing great and we like him a lot. He had the chance to go in the summer.
“He had a chance to go out in the summer, and he had a couple of good clubs [interested], but we like having him because he’s such a good boy. He’s low maintenance, trains great, great with the rest of the players. He’s a good boy to have around.”
This is precisely why the Hammers should give him a new contract.
The midfielder now has to make a big decision on his future. At West Ham, he will have to fight for his place, but there is no guarantee that he can be a regular at the club in the future.
At the same time, being low maintenance, the club would not mind keeping him. If there’s any injury crisis, Coventry can easily fill in, as he has shown his quality in European games.
Coventry had the opportunity to move elsewhere, but he wants to continue at his boyhood club. Everyone at the club loves him very much, and Moyes would love to have someone who plays with pride and passion.
The only thing Moyes needs to do is to find a way to give him more games that can help him progress further.
Having already qualified for the knockout rounds, Coventry can expect to play in the final Europa League game as well. The club must tie him up on a long-term deal.