Former West Ham United hero and youth coach Jack Collison has seen the positive in the club’s bizarre transfer deadline day actions.
Broke or something brewing? West Ham left with just 20 senior players after deadline day clearout
West Ham boss David Moyes has been clear all summer, he needs new players.
Just three weeks ago Moyes told the press he was looking to reinforce in central midfield and defence (whufc.com).
DREADline day
That came after the club pledged to use the money raised from the controversial £20million sale of Grady Diangana to West Brom to sign new players (whufc.com).
Only £5m right-back Vladimir Coufal has arrived since, though.
And deadline day passed last night with no more new arrivals.
Instead West Ham cleared the decks by terminating Jack Wilshere’s contract, selling Josh Cullen to Anderlecht and loaning Xande Silva to a Greek club.
And today the club will announce the departure of £40million star Felipe Anderson on a season-long loan to Porto.
While the window is closed, West Ham and Moyes do have until next Friday to sign players from the Championship.
West Ham squad left hanging by a thread
But in all it means West Ham have sold or released nine first team players since the end of June and welcomed just one new arrival.
The club now only has 20 senior players in the squad, including third-choice ‘training ground’ goalkeeper David Martin.
West Ham’s deadline day actions inexplicably leave Moyes with just two central midfielders capable of performing to a high standard in the Premier League – Tomas Soucek and Declan Rice.
They now have just two strikers in the entire squad – injury-prone Michail Antonio and Sebastien Haller.
And they have only one back-up centre-back.
The actions of the club have left West Ham fans furious.
Former hero Collison suggests West Ham plan to turn to youth
But former hero Jack Collison, now a coach at MLS side Atlanta, believes it could be part of a plan to give West Ham’s crop of hugely talented youngsters a pathway to the first team.
“Could be a great opportunity for some of the youngsters,” Collison said on Twitter when asked what West Ham are thinking with their actions.
“There is bags of talent at the club.
“Hopefully they will get some opportunities.”
Collison is right West Ham do have a plethora of young talent waiting in the wings.
But to suggest the club has a plan is a touch optimistic.
And it could be risky one given that many of them are untested.
In the areas of concern West Ham only really have Conor Coventry coming through the ranks who has had a taste of the first team.
And only Mipo Odubeko – currently injured- up front.
Declan Rice ‘gutted’ by Jack Wilshere departure from West Ham
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