Rewind twelve months and West Ham United head coach [Julen Lopetegui](https://www.claretandhugh.info/lopeteguis-surprise-bid-for-new-job-is-good-news-for-west-ham/) was busy dispatching players on loan as deadline day approached, to clear squad space for his own incomings Guido Rodriguez and Carols Soler. Which didn’t work out too well: **James Ward Prowse** was unceremoniously dispatched to Nottingham Forest and **Maxi Cornet** to Southampton: Both were returned mid way through the season, unwanted and unused.
The better loan deals arranged by J’Lo at the same time were for young players Freddie Potts and George Earthy who have come back stronger and Premier League ready: Perhaps the same fate awaits young striker Callum Marshall later today.
At the end of their loan spells, **James Ward-Prowse,** however, has at least found favour with Graham Potter if not yet the fans: **Maxi Cornet,** however, was unwanted at London Stadium and so was sent on a second loan. The worst side in the Premier League last year, Southampton, returned him unused and unwanted so a second loan was hastily arranged in Serie A at Genoa under Patrick Viera.
Cornet in Serie A for half a season at least attained a degree of success but no full time, permanent deal has been arranged for him. Huge wages of £60k a week have been too much for the Italian side to consider so at present, Maxi Cornet has ‘boomeranged’ back _again_ with no club to play for and no sale looking likely.
West Ham’s high ranking source told Claret and Hugh yesterday that options were limited: We’d asked whether a sale or a contract termination by mutual consent was likely to move Cornet on finally: _“Sadly, no on both counts:_” Was the reply meaning no suitors are in the wings, nor is Cornet ambitious enough to call it quits on his Hammers contract and find a new side to rebuild his career.
Probably Genoa will try again for a last minute heavily subsidised loan, meaning the Irons _will have to pay_ upwards of £50,000 a week just to send him elsewhere for regular football. Such is the downside of player transfer dealing.
And there’s still two more years on his contract and no end in site. Maxwel Cornet is one Hammer who will most certainly not be sold on deadline day 2025.
A lucky last minute loan seems the best the club can hope for, to save him from kicking his heels on the very back-of the back benches at West Ham.