Flynn Downes likely to push for permanent West Ham United exit in January as news emerges in last 24 hours
West Ham United loanee Flynn Downes may have already learned his first-team fate at the London Stadium when he returns which may push him towards a permanent exit in January.
Reliable 6foot2 editor taking to his personal Twitter account (10 November) shared that the Hammers could be willing to listen to offers for the former Swansea City midfielder.
It’s believed that there are concerns at the London Stadium regarding his ability to make it as a first-team regular and the Hammers will listen and consider offers should their valuation be met.
The 24-year-old has started 10 Championship games for the Saints since joining on a season’s loan from West Ham in the summer but faces an “uphill struggle” to force his way into the first team in East London when he returns.
Whetstone tweeted on the West Ham Football account (10 November):
“Flynn Downes faces an uphill struggle to force his way back to West Ham’s first team after his loan completes.
“The Hammer made seven first-team starts for West Ham in the Premier League under Moyes but has started ten times in the Championship for Southampton.
“There are concerns by some about whether he has what it takes to be a regular Premier League starter so West Ham could listen to offers in the summer if their valuation is met.”
As Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse arrived to replace Declan Rice over the summer transfer window, Downes certainly knew the only option was to leave on loan to get first-team opportunities.
The 24-year-old Hammers fan made 21 appearances during the 2022/23 season after his £12m move from Swansea City, however, only a handful of them were starts.
He certainly would have expected more game-time after making such a big-money move to the London Stadium last summer and it is certainly looking like a failed move for both parties at present.
Given the qualities shown by Alvarez and Ward-Prowse since their summer arrivals, it certainly seems like the Hammers will be looking to take their midfield quality up a notch next summer which could prove damaging for Downes in the long haul.
It surely seems as if his fate has already been sealed at the London Stadium.
Whether there’s any chance of him rectifying his situation when he returns from St Mary’s over the summer remains very unlikely now.
It may be better for his career to be proactive and make a swift permanent exit decision in the winter than waste another six months of uncertainty.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers will be impacted if a potential Premier League rule change is implemented, with a vote impending, as per Sky Sports.