If West Ham United are to be contending in Europe next season, then David Moyes and the Irons hierarchy will need to shift some deadwood on in the summer.
There are several players on the fringes or are completely out of first-team reckoning that are merely wasting the club’s finances. They must be moved on to free up funds for a productive summer transfer window.
One name that should sit high on the list of priorities is Andriy Yarmolenko, who is still struggling for game time despite Michail Antonio’s recent injury problems.
The 31-year-old forward joined from Borussia Dortmund for around £18m in 2018 and is thought to be amongst the Hammers’ highest-earners on £115k-per-week at the London Stadium.
Yarmolenko was crucially not involved on Monday night as Moyes’ side gave their top-four dreams a huge boost, defeating Burnley 2-1 and his absence may not have been injury-related as he had been on the bench with Antonio out himself.
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It’s clear that to see that the 58-year-old Scotsman doesn’t fancy the 92-time Ukraine international anymore as he has played just 992 minutes in all competitions throughout the 2020/21 campaign.
Across three years, Yarmolenko has only made 53 appearances, where he has scored ten goals and provided six assists, via Transfermarkt. In the same time frame, he has cost David Sullivan and co approximately £35m – and counting – when fees and wages are factored in.
That’s an excruciating £1.5m per appearance, and a disastrous £3.5m per goal scored.
These are finances that would be better off spent on players that are going to contribute to the cause, or those that are already lifting the club into European stardom.
Moyes will certainly need reinforcements this summer, especially in attack as he only has one senior striker at his disposal and having Yarmolenko continue to steal a living from the club is only going to hinder their plans.
Once lauded as “really special” by teammate Declan Rice, it’s time for the East London outfit to show no mercy and shift him on this summer.
AND in other news, Cresswell 2.0 – West Ham could land another bargain in 6 foot 4 “leader”…