Our View: Having been largely ignored by Moyes, Pablo Fornals could be West Ham’s saviour

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Pablo Fornals joined West Ham from Villarreal in the summer of 2019 for around £24 million (BBC).

The 23-year-old made a slow start to life in east London. But he began to find his feet around November, and was arguably the Hammers’ best player for the months and weeks leading up to Christmas and on into the new year.

David Moyes has often preferred Manuel Lanzini to the Spaniard, however. And that has been surprising to say the least.

Fornals has chipped in with three goals and three assists this season in 27 games (Transfermarkt).

And the former Villarreal man’s work ethic is second to none.

West Ham desperately need some creativity and guile in the final third between now and the end of the season. And if Moyes opts to drop Lanzini, he could play the 23-year-old centrally, giving him more freedom to flourish.

Fornals has mostly been utilised out wide on the left when he has started under Moyes, and Manuel Pellegrini before him.

The problem is that the Spaniard doesn’t possess any kind of real pace, so he can be ineffective at times when shunted out on the left.

If Moyes chooses to play him as part of a three-man midfield, the 23-year-old’s talent should come to the fore.

Having someone tucked in behind Sebastien Haller to help create more chances and space might just help the Frenchman out as well.

Lanzini has been in really poor form this season. And now is the ideal time for the Argentine to be dropped.

That would open the door for Fornals to show his true ability. And boy, do West Ham need the Spaniard firing on all cylinders right now.