West Ham are certainly enduring teething problems at their new stadium and the January transfer window is crucial for Slaven Bilic’s side, as they eye new recruits to help fend off the threat of relegation.
Whilst full-backs and strikers will be the top of the agenda for many West Ham fans, keeping hold of the best players in east London will certainly be top priority and it’s set to be a difficult few weeks for supporters to endure.
When a club is in the Hammers’ position, it’s only natural to see bigger team’s looking to snipe a deal from a struggling side and the situation seems to be no different for those in claret and blue this month, with a wealth of reports concerning potential exits.
Annoyingly for the drinkers in the Transfer Tavern, many of them centre around star man Dimitri Payet.
However, whilst it may be difficult, the Irons need to focus on the bigger picture and ensure any deals they approve are right for the club in the long-term. That means exits for these two crucial first-team names should be blocked, no matter how tempting the price is.
Michail Antonio
West Ham’s top scorer this season, Michail Antonio is reportedly attracting the attention of Premier League champions Chelsea and the prospect of joining a title-winning side and playing in Europe next season is difficult to turn down.
However, West Ham must fight tooth and nail to keep Antonio within their ranks as they would be lost without him. No other player has scored more than three Premier League goals this season and Antonio’s overall contribution is massive for the Hammers.
Dimitri Payet
With Slaven Bilic confirming that Dimitri Payet is refusing to play for the club and wants to leave this month, many are calling for the Hammers to cash-in on their superstar. However, it would be the wrong move.
Whilst Payet will throw his toys out of the pram, approving an exit would send the wrong message to other players at the club and could affect their discussions with potential targets. West Ham don’t need the money so there’s no desperate need to sell, and it’s time for the Hammers to be stubborn.
