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Forgotten £17 million West Ham player’s woeful season continues with no end in sight for his struggles

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West Ham United have made some truly terrible signings over the past three or four years.

And now the ramifications of a lot of those poor decisions are really coming home to roost for West Ham.

Nuno Espirito Santo has some serious problems on his hands right now, with the Hammers staring relegation from the Premier League squarely in the face.

West Ham’s defeat to Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night felt like the final nail in the coffin for the east London outfit.

With that in mind, planning for a sustainable way to achieve future success should be high up on the West Ham hierarchy’s agenda.

Could that mean the return of some of the Hammers’ forgotten players who are currently out on loan?

West Ham-owned Maxwel Cornet’s woeful season continues

Maxwel Cornet signed for the Hammers for around £17 million from Burnley in the summer of 2022 (Evening Standard).

He arrived at the London Stadium with a big reputation and the West Ham fans were hugely excited at the prospect of what he had to offer.

However, the former Burnley man has endured a torrid time with the Hammers.

He has played just 985 minutes for West Ham in total and hasn’t been seen in a Hammers shirt since April 2024.

Cornet joined Southampton on loan in the summer of 2024, but he was quickly sent back to the London Stadium in January.

Maxwel Cornet ahead of West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur
Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images

The 29-year-old then left West Ham again, but this time to join Genoa on loan, and he made a decent start to life in Serie A.

Unfortunately for him, things have gone downhill for him since he rejoined Genoa on loan in the summer of 2025.

During his spells away from the club, Cornet has suffered badly with injury problems.

And those issues have continued for him this season.

Maxwel Cornet clearly doesn’t have a future with West Ham

Incredibly, Cornet has played just 78 minutes of football this season.

Imagine you are Nuno – What is the FIRST thing you are doing to save your job?

Nuno Espirito Santo, Manager of West Ham United, during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Nottingham Forest at London Stadium on January 06, 2026 in London, England.

It’s clear to see that he won’t be joining the Italian side on a permanent deal. After all, why would they sign someone who is so unreliable from a fitness perspective?

Cornet undoubtedly had real talent and he had huge potential back in 2022 when West Ham signed him.

He has had no luck whatsoever with his fitness over the past few years, though.

And it wouldn’t surprise anyone if he was released from his contract with West Ham whenever he actually returns to the club.