While goodbyes have hardly been in short supply during the early weeks of the transfer window at West Ham United, the Premier League outfit are still awaiting their first summer sale.
Veteran trio Lukasz Fabianski, Vladimir Coufal and Aaron Cresswell leave the London Stadium as free agents.
Danny Ings follows in the same direction as Upton Park icon Frankie McAvennie hits out at West Ham for wasting a ‘wonderful’ centre-forward who once broke the 20-goal Premier League barrier at Southampton.
West Ham United also confirmed that former captain Kurt Zouma will not be offered a new deal after a loan spell in the Middle East. And, as contract talks stall with Michail Antonio, the striker’s first club appearance since he suffered a broken leg back in December is unlikely to come in a claret and blue jersey.
Yet, while the Hammers will officially remove six highly-experienced players on July 1st, the club are still awaiting their first influx of cash during a window in which many first-team sales are still expected.
A wait Maxwel Cornet was supposed to bring to an end.
West Ham United loanee Maxwel Cornet celebrates scoring a goal during Cagliari v Genoa - Serie A
Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images
Maxwel Cornet thanks Genoa as West Ham United loan deal comes to an end
It was reported back in May that, despite the fact Maxwel Cornet’s Serie A loan spell ended prematurely due to a reoccurrence of those old injury concerns, Genoa are still keen to sign the West Ham misfit on a full-time basis.
Provided, of course, that Cornet was willing to accept a cut on his alleged £65,000-a-week wages.
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Gianluca di Marzio, one of the most respected figures in Italian football media, then reported that Genoa were first waiting to find out if head coach Patrick Vieira was staying put at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris amid interest from Inter Milan.
Former Arsenal captain Vieira has since agreed fresh terms with the Grifone, as old employers Inter bring another familiar face back to Serie A in the shape of Christian Chivu.
However, a renewed Genoa assault for Maxwel Cornet’s signature is yet to follow suit.
And as Cornet posted a grateful social media message to the Grifone supporters, this certainly had the makings of an apparent goodbye.
“Thank you Genoa,” the former Lyon and Burnley winger wrote on his official Instagram account. “And [thank you to] the fans for making me feel at home.”
Serie A outfit want loan deal as West Ham faced with Cornet dilemma
Ligurian publication Il Secolo XIX report that Genoa have not given up yet on bringing Cornet back. But if West Ham are hoping to get one of the most disappointing signings of recent years off the books for good, they will not be pleased to hear that Genoa are now prioritising an extension of that initial loan deal.
Though they can hardly be blamed, given Cornet’s worrying fitness record.
It is also reported that in order to make even a short-term arrangement happen, West Ham may need to be responsible for a decent portion of Cornet’s weekly wage, even if he spends the whole of next season on Italian soil.
Patrick Vieira welcomed Maxwel Cornet to the Luigi Ferraris with open arms back in January. After a stint with Southampton saw him play a grand total of 72 Premier League minutes, Cornet repaid Vieira’s faith with two goals and an assist in his first six Serie A outings before the injuries returned.
“He came here with the desire to help the team,” former Crystal Palace, Nice and Manchester City academy coach Vieira said. “He wants to play. He misses the pitch.
“He is an ambitious boy and wants to return to the national team but to do so he must do well here. He is hungry for football and [has the] desire.”