West Ham United: Anonymous source shares London Stadium ‘problem’ amid Divin Mubama transfer doubt
West Ham – and football clubs in general – face a “problem” when it comes to bedding in young players, an anonymous source has told the Daily Mail.
An in-depth report written by Kieran Gill [20 January] pointed out that United have not started a homegrown player in the Premier League in four years.
Divin Mubama and Callum Marshall may become the latest two youngsters to quit London Stadium when their contracts expire in the summer, while Conor Coventry recently joined Charlton Athletic.
Gill spoke to multiple agents of academy players, both past and present, to ask if West Ham is a desirable destination for youngsters.
“It isn’t a West Ham problem – it’s a football problem,” Gill quotes one anonymous source as saying.
“It isn’t like when Sir Alex Ferguson had the liberty to take risks. Managers like [David] Moyes know their jobs are on the line.
“They have to win, win, win, which is why there is a roadblock. Boys today are victims of the time.”
One start
West Ham, a club famed for bringing through talents, have indeed struggled somewhat in bedding in youngsters in recent times.
A lot was expected of Mubama, but it is looking increasingly likely that a player who has been at the club for 11 years will leave in the summer.
Mubama has started just one game in all competitions this season, despite injury issues in the squad, while playing eight times as a substitute.
It could be argued that the 19-year-old has not done enough to warrant more regular starts, but he is a microcosm of the problem many in his position face.
As Gill rightly points out, Moyes cannot really afford to have one eye on West Ham’s long-term future when the here and now is all that counts.
Given the numerous links with big-money strikers this month – Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface among them – Mubama does not really stand a chance.
Ultimately, the cream always rises to the top and if Mubama is good enough then he will show it. Whether that is at West Ham or not is a different story.
In other West Ham news, the Irons have reached out to a fellow Premier League side regarding the signing of a player.
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