Divin Mubama may only have seven more chances for West Ham United after latest David Moyes snub
As soon as Gianluca Scamacca was sold by West Ham United this summer, David Moyes’ side appeared to be short of attacking options, with Danny Ings and Michail Antonio the only senior strikers in the side.
Antonio started the season well but has now been sidelined with injury, while Ings has fallen down the pecking order due to his recent poor form both in the Premier League and the Europa League campaign.
While that would seemingly leave an obvious route for Divin Mubama to finally establish himself as a first-team regular at the London Stadium, Moyes has barely used the teenager, instead opting to start Jarrod Bowen through the middle.
Mubama started the Irons clash with TSC Backa Topola in the Europa League, but reportedly has a zero to minimal chance of being involved in any capacity against Tottenham in their Premier League clash on Thursday 7 December [Claret and Hugh, 4 December].
The 19-year-old has rejected a contract offer from the Hammers already this season as a result of his lack of playing time, despite being incredibly highly thought of by those behind the scenes at the London Stadium [The Athletic, 30 October].
However, contract talks have continued since that initial rejection, with sources close to the player suggesting that there is a desire to resolve the striker’s future sooner rather than later [Claret & Hugh, 23 November].
But with it appearing that Mubama is not at all fancied by Moyes, with the Hammers boss seemingly reluctant to utilise the striker in the Premier League, he may well have played his last match in a West Ham shirt and might look to move on in January.
If he has zero chance of featuring against Spurs when Antonio is ruled out with injury after the Irons looked fairly poor going forward against Crystal Palace, it is hard to see when or where he will have a chance of leading the line under the Scotsman.
With the January transfer window around the corner, the Irons will have one final chance to earn a transfer fee for the teenager before he is allowed to leave for a compensation fee next summer. If he isn’t part of Moyes’ plans it may well be best for him to depart in January.
If a January exit could be on the cards, Mubama may only have seven games left in a claret and blue shirt before the transfer window opens once again.
While that would frustrate large parts of the fanbase, it feels like the teenager’s future lies elsewhere at the moment.
In other West Ham news, Fabrizio Romano has shared an update on Mohammed Kudus’ situation at the London Stadium