As much as it might pain West Ham United fans to admit it, co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold may have played a blinder over Grady Diangana.
West Ham insider ExWHUemployee allays permanent signing fears
Many West Ham fans were furious when young star Diangana was sold to West Bromwich Albion for over £18million in the summer.
In an ideal world West Ham would have kept Diagana. But had he stayed, it is highly unlikely he would be getting anywhere near the side.
Failing to make the Grady at West Brom
Diangana may have shone in the Championship for the Baggies after being shipped out on loan by West Ham last season.
But he has flopped massively at the Hawthorns in the top flight.
Familiar question marks have emerged over Diangana’s ability to deliver consistently at the top level with West Brom.
They are the same doubts which were raised when Diangana’s meteoric rise to the West Ham first team under Manuel Pellegrini went flat.
The fuss that was made by West Ham captain Mark Noble over Diangana’s sale was justified at the time when it was unclear whether the Hammers would be making any signings of their own.
Big Sam further vindicates Sullivan and Gold’s decision to sell Diangana for £18m
But with hindsight it appears an overreaction.
Of course no West Ham fan will take any pleasure seeing one of their academy products struggling.
And in fairness to Diangana he is playing in a poor West Brom side for this level.
But new Baggies boss Sam Allardyce further vindicated the decision of West Ham owners Sullivan and Gold to sell Diangana when he hauled him off at half-time of their latest thrashing at the hands of Arsenal last night.
It comes after Diangana was heavily criticised following the 5-0 defeat to Leeds the game before.
According to SofaScore, Diangana failed to deliver a single accurate cross or long ball, managed just one shot and only pulled off 50% of his dribbling attempts against Leeds.
It was a similar story against Arsenal too.
Former Hammer rated 2/10 against Arsenal
It means Diangana has contributed just one goal in 14 appearances in the Premier League since West Ham sanctioned his £18m sale (WhoScored.com).
BirminghamLive reporter Joseph Chapman feels Diangana is failing to make the grade and rated his performance against Leeds 3/10.
Things got worse last night as Diangana was rated 2/10 after being hooked at half-time.
“Whether he was operating as a winger in a midfield five or as a wing-back in a back five in the first half, Diangana couldn’t stem the flow of Arsenal attacks down Albion’s left,” BirminghamLive reported after West Brom’s latest defeat.
“Was swiftly withdrawn at the break having had no significant impact on the game.”
There is no denying West Ham have done good business.
Particularly given the Diangana money was used to make key signings. Without his sale the likes of Vladimir Coufal and – subject to passing a second medical – Said Benrahma would not have arrived.