OUT OF sight, out of mind: The West Ham players who have been loaned out this season as a convenient method of getting them out of the squad will be looking nervously ahead towards the season’s finale, wondering what the future has in store for them.
Unwanted loaned-out stars will boomerang back next month
James Ward-Prowse is on loan to Burnley who are destined for the Championship: The midfielder’s loan is just until the season end in May so he’ll be trudging back to east London knowing that there’s no future for him under Nuno Espírito Santo.
Milan want to send Fullkrug back to West Ham
Niclas Fullkrug’s Milan loan has been deemed a failure: Even with a ridiculously low €4 million option fee, Fullkrug will be returned to West Ham at the end of the season, deemed surplus to requirements by the Italian side.
Edson Alvarez is currently recuperating from surgery and in a desperate bid to get back onto the pitch ahead of the summer World Cup: Whether he makes it in time to appear for Fenerbahçe before his loan expires is another issue: The ludicrous option fee reported to be in the region of £17 million won’t interest the Turkish side which means he’s another Hammer who will ‘boomerang’ back to east London.
Most Read on West Ham News
Edson Alvarez looks on as he receives a red card for West Ham against Nottingham Forest
Edson Alvarez is another player unwanted by Nuno
Alvarez should least make the Mexico World Cup squad if fit: As their talismanic captain, at least he doesn’t have to worry about selection providing he can pass fitness tests.
What of the future for these out on loan, hugely costly players? We asked our own expert transfer source outside West Ham what would happen to Fullkrug and Alvarez – would either of them possibly get picked up by their loan clubs?
“Both will return 99% – but will be sold cheap” – was the unequivocal answer.
Fullkrug in particular has been a colossal waste of money after his £26 million transfer to West Ham with just three goals to show for such a huge outlay. You suspect he’ll be given away for next to nothing simply to get his wages off the books.
Alvarez, at least, should achieve £10 million plus if he has a decent World Cup and proves his fitness. However, that’s not a lot to show for over £50 million of outlay on the duo. That’s without factoring in the £30 million spent on Ward Prowse. Losses everywhere.
Hardly shrewd business. Faced with bare facts like these, Alan Sugar would surely be pointing the finger and voicing those immortal words: “You’re fired’.