Opinion

Huge interest in West Ham outcast Thilo Kehrer suggests David Moyes is about to drop a clanger

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Huge interest in West Ham outcast Thilo Kehrer suggests David Moyes is about to drop a January window clanger.

Historically – Declan Rice aside – West Ham have struggled to get top value for their better players.

The likes of Marko Arnautovic and Dimitri Payet are just two who spring to mind.

So imagine the difficulty West Ham face getting anything like decent money for bit-part fringe players.

The problem for West Ham in the January transfer window is that is exactly what they must do to create space in the squad, raise money for signings and satisfy FFP rules.

There is no shortage of fringe players who clearly have no future at West Ham under David Moyes.

West Ham United FC v Sport-Club Freiburg: Group A - UEFA Europa League 2023/24
Photo by Vincent Mignott/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

Utility man frozen out

One of those is German defender Thilo Kehrer.

The £10.5m signing from PSG has played just 19 minutes of Premier League football for West Ham this season.

That’s despite establishing himself as an important utility player for West Ham on their way to Europa Conference League glory last season.

This term, though, Kehrer has been completely marginalised by Moyes, making just four starts in all competitions.

ACF Fiorentina v West Ham United FC - UEFA Europa Conference League Final 2022/23
Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images

Huge interest in West Ham outcast Kehrer

So it was no real surprise when reports emerged linking him with a move away in January.

But huge interest in West Ham outcast Kehrer suggests Moyes is about to drop a clanger.

Because no fewer than NINE, yes nine, top clubs are battling to sign Kehrer next month according to reports.

European giants Bayern Munich and AC Milan are both said to be seriously interest in signing Kehrer from West Ham.

So too are Eintracht Frankfurt, Aston Villa, Roma, Atalanta and Ligue 1 trio Monaco, Rennes and Nice.

West Ham United v Manchester United - Premier League
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images

Is Moyes about to drop a clanger?

According to L’Équipe, Kehrer has already rejected Atalanta and both Nice and Rennes have already submitted contract offers to the Hammers outcast.

So it begs the question, if so many top clubs and top managers want Kehrer, are West Ham making a mistake shipping him out?

Moyes even stated himself earlier this month that Kehrer is a ‘brilliant boy who is hugely important for West Ham with his versatility and flexibility’.

Perhaps the FFP situation and West Ham’s need to bring in players to satisfy the Premier League’s homegrown quota is dictating Kehrer’s seemingly inevitable departure.

If he does leave then as far as most West Ham fans are concerned the part he played in the European success means he’s been worth every penny of his £10.5m fee.

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