The six out of contract players West Ham could lose for free this summer

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West Ham could see as many as six first team players leave the club for nothing this summer, with contracts running down.

The future of David Moyes remains unclear so there could be a scenario where he joins them out of the West Ham exit too.

Technical director Tim Steidten – and Moyes or his successor – already need to add several players in key positions.

West Ham are lacking quality in depth in both full-back positions, at centre-back and up front.

Well it’s looking like a major rebuild is on the cards given the contract situation at the club.

And that’s before we even entertain the idea of the anticipated sale of Lucas Paqueta to Man City.

Several first-team players are out of contract at the end of the season as things stand.

That means they could walk away from the club for free.

West Ham already have a big issue in signing players of homegrown status this summer.

And several of those who could depart the Hammers for nothing count as homegrown players.

Here are the six out of contract players West Ham could lose for free this summer.

1) Joseph Anang

Joseph Anang, 23, counts as a homegrown player for West Ham. He is currently third choice goalkeeper behind Alphonse Areola and Lukasz Fabianski. Ghana-born Anang has also notably become Mohammed Kudus’ best friend at the club. It remains to be seen whether West Ham hand him a new deal or look to sign a new number two with Fabianski number three for the final year of his deal.

2) Angelo Ogbonna

One of West Ham’s best signings and most consistent players of the modern era. Angelo Ogbonna signed a new deal last summer for another year but has barely featured this season despite being brilliant when he has. Oggy turns 36 in two months and it remains to be seen whether he will be handed another 12 month contract to bring up his testimonial year.

3) Aaron Cresswell

Another superb servant and absolute bargain £3.5m signing from Ipswich, Aaron Cresswell is in his testimonial year. He turns 35 in December and pushed for a move to Wolves last summer which failed to materialise. Another who counts as homegrown for the Hammers.

4) Ben Johnson

Another homegrown player in every sense of the word. Ben Johnson graduated from West Ham’s Academy but now looks set to leave on a free having snubbed at least two lengthy new contracts. A handy utility player who can play in several positions but has failed to establish himself in any of them. Johnson is said to want £60k per week to renew.

5) Kalvin Phillips

Another ticking the homegrown box who will depart West Ham this summer. Kalvin Phillips signed from Man City in a straight loan deal with no official option or obligation to buy. That may have been a lucky escape based on his performances for the Hammers thus far. He still has time to impress if he wants West Ham to sign him permanently. But that is looking highly unlikely at the moment and he will leave the club to return to City when his loan deal expires this summer.

6) Divin Mubama

Talented young homegrown striker is another refusing – at present – to sign a new deal. Divin Mubama looked like a cheap answer to West Ham’s lack of striker options. But he has failed to kick on under the manager and will look to leave on a free this summer as things stand. Mubama looks like he needs a loan in the Championship or League One to toughen up and sharpen his game. His agents have allegedly advised him to seek pastures new on a free.

Vladimir Coufal and Michail Antonio clarified

There is some confusion over Vladimir Coufal’s situation. And it’s not helped by West Ham’s bizarre secrecy around contracts. In January The Sun carried quotes from Coufal’s agent claiming the right-back was furious after West Ham took up a one-year extension option in his contract to maintain his current salary. The agent claimed Coufal feels he deserves better. But Transfermarkt still lists Coufal’s contract as expiring this summer. Our information is that he has indeed been signed up to the extended deal meaning his contract runs until 2025.

Michail Antonio is also listed as a free agent as of the summer. But he signed a secret new one-year deal with a one-year option which will likely keep him at West Ham until retirement unless they look to try and make some money back on the Jamaican this summer.

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