David Sullivan must sanction West Ham United sales on Said Benrahma and Pablo Fornals in January, they looked lost v Backa Topola
West Ham United could be in for a busy January and much of their transfer business could involve sales of several stars including Pablo Fornals and Said Benrahma who were abject against Backa Topla.
Tomas Soucek scored another late winner as West Ham booked their place in the Europa League knockout stage in Serbia on Thursday night (30 November).
It had been a turgid and lifeless display from David Moyes’ side with only one shot on target until the Czech met Maxwel Cornet’s cross for his fifth goal in his past five games for club and country.
Soucek’s goal meant West Ham United have scored in 20 successive European games, winning 18 and losing only once in that span of games.
However, despite the win, Moyes will be disappointed with the performances of some of his stars which only heightens the need for some serious business in the January window.
And Benrahma and Fornals could well see themselves sold and replaced if they don’t get their act together in the coming critical weeks of Premier League action.
Former Brentford forward Benrahma has started ten games in all competitions so far this season with just 460 minutes of Premier League action under his belt after playing an integral role throughout last season, featuring in 50-odd games.
Similarly, Fornals has been resigned to a bit-part role, playing just 167 minutes of league action [Tranfermarkt] after the summer additions of Mohammed Kudus and James Ward-Prowse who have proven integral for Moyes already.
Both players will have been frustrated by their lack of game time under the Scot.
However, they failed to make the most of their rare opportunities in Serbia as they looked lost for most part of the game when they were expected to be the Hammers’ most creative outlets alongside Lucas Paqueta.
The stats showed their miserable evening and how they were far from what fans expected from them.
As per SofaScore, Benrahma failed to register a single key pass, won just 30% of his ground duels, lost possession of the ball 19 times and failed with 100% of his crosses in another lacklustre showing.
It was a similar story for Fornals, who certainly put in more endeavour and urgency in his play, failing to provide the telling impact Moyes needed.
The Spaniard registered one key pass, won just two of his duels, failed to register a single shot on target, lost 100% of his aerial duels, lost possession nine times and completed just 50% of his crosses.
It’s been reported that Fornals has rejected the chance of a new deal at the London Stadium (Sean Whetstone, 14 September), with his contract up next June, meaning all roads are certainly now leading towards an inevitable London Stadium exit.
With Sevilla interested in his services for the January window, Sullivan may well feel West Ham United can gain as much funds as possible should he be sold in the winter. The same can be said of Benrahma whose days as an Irons player are drawing very much to a close.
In other West Ham news, a TNT Sports pundit was left blown away by one Hammers player after what he did in their 1-0 win over Backa Topola, he is “on flames” right now.