West Ham will extend Angelo Ogbonna’s contract for another year if he is ruled out for season
West Ham will extend Angelo Ogbonna’s deal for another year if his injury rules him out of the season, according to The Athletic.
The Italian centre-back, 33, damaged his anterior cruciate ligament in Sunday’s 3-2 win over Liverpool and could miss a large chunk of the campaign.
Ogbonna’s current deal runs out at the end of 2021-22, but the Hammers hold an option to extend it by a year, and they will activate it in the event of a lengthy injury to aid his recovery.
Boost
Missing Ogbonna is a huge blow for David Moyes given the solid partnership he has formed with Kurt Zouma in the heart of defence.
However, that he will have his deal extended even if he does not return to action this term is good news.
The veteran has been very dependable since joining the club from Juventus in the summer of 2015, featuring in over 170 top-flight games.
Despite his age, Ogbonna has proven very valuable under Moyes, and the West Ham boss will be assessing his options ahead of the January transfer window.
Craig Dawson replaced the centre-back against Liverpool while Issa Diop is also available to provide cover from the bench, but the Irons could look to bring in a new face in the winter.
They are currently third in the Premier League table, and such a key injury to an important member of the starting XI could potentially derail their campaign.
Dawson and Diop have a chance to prove themselves in the coming weeks, and just maybe one of them will impress enough to fill Ogbonna’s shoes.
In other West Ham news, Jesse Lingard has sent a two-word message to Hammers ace after 3-2 win v Liverpool.
Be sure to follow West Ham Zone on Facebook and Twitter for 24/7 updates on the Hammers and more exclusive interviews with Frank McAvennie.