Pablo Fornals could be West Ham United replacement for Jesse Lingard as he makes preference clear
David Moyes has worked hard so far this season to ensure that the West Ham United midfield has remained strong, despite losing Declan Rice to Arsenal this summer.
The Hammers’ start to the season has been impressive, not least due to the performances of Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse and Lucas Paqueta in the middle of the park, with all three midfielders ensuring very few fans have been missing their former captain.
One man that has suffered as a result of the trio’s good form, however, has been Pablo Fornals, with the Spanish midfielder limited to only a single start in the Premier League this season and he has failed to impress in the Carabao Cup and Europa League.
Having played in centre-midfield and from the left-wing, the 27-year-old has made his preferred position clear as he told the West Ham website (29 September) why he picked his squad number, saying: “I always felt the position the No8 is usually associated with is where I am at my best, so I love the No8.
“Andres Iniesta used to wear the No8 too, and he’s an influence on my style. Also, the No8 looks a bit like the infinity symbol, which I like as well.”
Fornals views himself as a central midfielder if he’s comparing his style with Iniesta, but that means if he wants to start in the Premier League, he’s going to have to displace one of the stalwarts in the middle of the park currently.
While his performance so far this season have shown little evidence he is capable of upsetting that trio, especially his poor display against TSC Backa Topola which saw him hooked at the hour mark, there is now a potential space as an attacking midfielder.
Given Jesse Lingard’s decision to join Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq on trial having cost the Hammers thousands of pounds in expenses while training with Moyes’ side earlier this summer [Daily Mail, 29 September], there is a vacancy in midfield that would have likely been filled by the former Manchester United man.
With the Hammers facing a busy fixture schedule having progressed to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup while also competing in the Europa League, Fornals will be given plenty of chances to start in his favoured midfield position and stake his claim as to why he should be playing more in the Premier League.
Had Lingard been added to the ranks, he would have seemingly had little to no chance of featuring for Moyes’ side in the middle of the park, so while West Ham may feel aggrieved to have spent so much on a player that opted to move elsewhere, it could be a blessing for Fornals.
However, with reports that Sevilla are hopeful of tempting the Spaniard back to his native country in January [El Sevillista, 26 September] the 27-year-old may have to attempt to replicate his idol Iniesta’s style in La Liga.
In other West Ham news, Michail Antonio has been ridiculed for not showing up to his BBC podcast after his bold Liverpool prediction