West Ham must sanction player exit – otherwise Lopetegui is finished
After a 5-0 defeat against Liverpool on Sunday, the speculation surrounding Julen Lopetegui’s future at West Ham is as loud as ever.
Although the Reds are a side in excellent form, the manner of the Hammers’ defeat let the boss down with the performance below par and both himself and the players looking lost for any ideas.
A bad afternoon was made worse for the Irons due to losing Jarrod Bowen during the game due to him suffering from an injury that’s now confirmed to be a fractured foot.
The loss of the standout player in East London means there is even more pressure on Lopetegui to make the right signings during the January transfer window to strengthen his side for the second half of the campaign.
However, it won’t be an easy window to navigate with Jason Burt reporting that the Hammers will have to sell players first if they want to bring people in.
West Ham need to offload if they are to make the right signings
With players needing to be offloaded before additions can be made, the prospect of Guido Rodriguez returning to Real Betis would have been a source of hope for the Hammers.
However, InfoRealBetis have reported that this is a deal which looks unlikely to happen and a return to his former club is off the cards for the midfielder.
Despite this setback, the Spanish outlet claims a move is still a possibility which means the Hammers have to do everything they can to see this through.
Since his arrival in the summer, the 30-year-old has struggled to get going at The London Stadium with his biggest contribution this term probably the five yellow cards he picked up that led to a suspension.
Therefore, the Irons could certainly do with some midfield reinforcements in the transfer window.
With this in mind, it is crucial that Lopetegui pushes for a Rodriguez exit in the coming month despite his initial move to Real Betis off the table as this would free up wages and provide the money needed to be able to reinvest in the side.
If a deal can’t be reached, it could be the difference between a player that could impact the Hammers and in turn, it is the business done in the window which will dictate how long Lopetegui has left in East London.
In other West Ham news, the Irons are believed to have been offered a star wanted by Aston Villa.
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