BBC figure issues clarification as claim made about West Ham United ace today
West Ham United will have formally requested Southampton to end the loan of Maxwel Cornet, according to Adam Blackmore.
Saints boss Ivan Juric confirmed via his pre-match press conference on Thursday (2 December), as relayed by SaintsExtra on X, that the 28-year-old will return to East London.
BBC Sport editor Blackmore also reported the news via X before further clarifying the decision, confirming the Hammers will have played a decisive role in ending the Ivorian’s disappointing loan spell.
He said: “Worth me clarifying that West Ham have a part to play in Cornet going back, as in they’d need to recall him formally …….but he’s hardly going to be an asset to them sat going down in value at Saints”.
West Ham United recall Maxwel Cornet from Southampton
The 28-year-old has featured only twice in the Premier League throughout his time on the South Coast, so sending him back to West Ham felt inevitable.
While Cornet stands no hope of mounting a challenge for a first-team berth at the London Stadium, Tim Steidten has bigger plans for the player.
According to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook (30 December), the Hammers hope to make a quick turnaround on Cornet and plan to sanction his permanent departure in January.
Although the Irons will be lucky to recoup a fraction of the £17.5million cost to secure his signature from Burnley [BBC Sport], there is no sense in having a player taking up space on the wage bill with no apparent long-term future in East London.
Furthermore, his game time, or lack thereof, at Southampton will have drastically lowered his market value, and with his contract with the Irons running until 2027, January is the perfect opportunity to generate much-needed funds.
His sale will hardly capture an eye-watering fee for West Ham, but after Steidten’s frivolous exploits in the summer, funds must be raised to provide Lopetegui with winter recruits amid the lingering threat from PSR.
In other West Ham news, a Guido Rodriguez exit update has been shared at the Hammers.
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