Said Benrahma could finally get his first start for West Ham United at Leeds but not in place of who fans might think.
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That’s according to West Ham insiders Claret & Hugh.
Many fans have been calling for Benrahma to be given his head in place of Pablo Fornals.
The Spaniard is a favourite of David Moyes. And it is easy to understand why.
Hammers fans expecting to see Benrahma replace wasteful Fornals at Leeds
Fornals is statistically one of the hardest working players in the Premier League and had started to marry that graft with goals and assists.
But he has been increasingly wasteful in possession and in front of goal.
It culminated in his worst performance for West Ham for some time in the defeat to Manchester United last time out.
Benrahma meanwhile once again looked as sharp as a tack when he came on against the Red Devils.
But in a shocking twist Claret & Hugh claim Benrahma could come into the side as a striker in place of Sebastien Haller instead.
Benrahma might replace Haller for first start – insider
Michail Antonio has been ruled out of West Ham’s next two games.
David Moyes has no other striker options. So most fans assume Haller will start up front at Leeds, even if he does divide opinion among supporters.
Claret & Hugh claim Moyes could consider playing Benrahma as the striker instead in what would be a shock twist.
“It remains to be seen whether the manager will persist with the out of form and out of luck Seb Haller in the two upcoming games,” Claret & Hugh state in their latest Antonio update.
“Or maybe launch Said Benrahma into the central striker role.”
In a further hint that Moyes may consider mixing things up, Claret & Hugh blogger Sean Whetstone points out in a later opinion piece that the manager has successfully converted Marko Arnautovic and Michail Antonio from wingers to strikers and Benrahma might be next.
“So, could it be time to turn Benrahma as our centre forward in the same way and hope it becomes a similar transformation we saw in Marko Arnautovic and Michail Antonio?,” Claret & Hugh said.
“The Algerian certainly knows where the goal is and looks the type of player who could thrive if given his chance in the starting lineup within the eight days featuring two winnable games.”
Death knell for Haller’s Hammers career if Moyes drops him for Benrahma despite lack of striker options
If Moyes does drop Haller for Benrahma it will all but spell the end of his West Ham career.
The January window is just three weeks away. And Moyes is reportedly still keen on Josh King. So one would imagine shipping out Haller will be near the top of the agenda too.
Monaco were interested in him during the summer window (Le 10 Sport).
And West Ham would surely be keen to recoup whatever they can to invest elsewhere.
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