Now another fan favourite is linked with a move away but West Ham must not hesitate to say goodbye as long as a replacement is lined up.
The key is those last few words of course – ‘as long as a replacement is lined up’ as West Ham defender Thilo Kehrer is linked with a move away.
Bayern Munich are reportedly interested in bringing the German back to his homeland before the summer transfer window closes.
It is an understatement to say Kehrer’s debut season with the Hammers was a rollercoaster.
Kehrer’s rollercoaster debut season
And it was certainly one that ended on a high with the former PSG flop starring as a second half substitute to help West Ham lift their first trophy for 43 years.
Every player involved in the squad over in Prague have – rightfully – earned a place in the club’s history.
Many felt Kehrer’s gritty performance in that game was the confirmation that he had finally settled into this West Ham team after blowing hot and cold for much of the campaign.
After leading the Premier League in errors directly resulting in goals for the opposition midway through the season, Kehrer looked to have been a questionable buy – even at a relatively low £10m.
PSG fans had warned West Ham off Kehrer and celebrated his departure.
In fact had you asked West Ham fans around February time whether the club should sell Kehrer this summer the majority would have said ‘yes’.
Now another fan favourite is linked with a move away but West Ham must not hesitate to say goodbye as long as a replacement is lined up – view
Fast forward to present day, though, and opinion may well have shifted. Especially as Kehrer endeared himself to supporters even further with his celebrations and MC’ing during the club’s victory parade.
Now he is another fan favourite linked with a move away but West Ham must not hesitate to say goodbye as long as a replacement is lined up.
Kehrer finds himself fifth choice centre-back at West Ham behind Kurt Zouma, Nayef Aguerd, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Angelo Ogbonna.
And – at best – he is second choice right-back.
His preferred position, by his own admission, is centre-back. And he is a German international – for the time being at least.
That won’t continue much longer if he’s not playing at West Ham.
Kehrer’s versatility make him a useful squad player. And he comes across as a fantastic character in the dressing room.
But West Ham need a fit-for-purpose young, modern, pacy right-back to compete with and eventually replace Vladimir Coufal.
Should Kehrer departure enable West Ham to sign a bonafide modern pacy right-back then club must not hesitate
If selling Kehrer to Bayern helps facilitate that then the Hammers should not hesitate to say goodbye.
Some players go through their entire careers without winning a trophy. So Kehrer has already helped West Ham achieve so much in his short time here.
His performances are too hot and cold for the German to establish himself as a first team starter in any particular position.
By all accounts he is a great professional and great guy capable of the odd great performance.
But if selling him raises money which can be spent on a bona fide right-back then David Moyes and Tim Steidten should sanction it.
Only IF West Ham have that long-term right-back lined up and willing to join. Someone like Spain Under 20 star ‘the beast’ Ivan Fresneda – who has been linked with a move to West Ham from Real Valladolid.
With Steidten on board, we should feel reassured that he has a list of right-back targets up his sleeve too.