Who would have imagined that Patrick Vieira and Cesc Fabregas would both have a key role to play in the future of West Ham United’s forgotten man?
The chances of a Maxwel Cornet renaissance at the London Stadium look slim, to say the least.
The £17 million signing from Burnley has not featured in a West Ham United jersey since a 5-2 defeat by Crystal Palace in April 2024. Cornet saw a forgettable loan spell with Southampton cancelled halfway through the season just gone, while his time in Serie A was halted by a reoccurrence of the injury issues which have blighted the winger’s recent career.
Yet, Genoa remain determined to keep Maxwel Cornet in Liguria.
Despite making only seven Serie A appearances for the Grifone – and playing just eight minutes since the beginning of May – Il Secolo XIX report that Genoa are still planning to sign Cornet on a permanent basis this summer.
Cornet, for his part, is open to a permanent stay at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris too, even if a considerable reduction will be required on his eye-watering £65,000-a-week salary.
There may, however, be complications arising via the uncertainty surrounding a pair of former Arsenal captains and Premier League icons.
Cesc Fabregas uncertainty as West Ham United look to sell Maxwel Cornet
Gianluca di Marzio, one of the most respected reporters in Italian football, provided an update via his official website on Wednesday.
Genoa are awaiting a decision on head coach Patrick Vieira, Di Marzio says, before going full-steam ahead with Maxwel Cornet.
Vieira coached the Ivory Coast international during his brief loan spell in Italy. A former Inter Milan midfielder, Vieira has also been lined up as an alternative by the Nerazzuri should they fail to reach an agreement to take Cesc Fabregas away from an ambitious Como outfit.
Fabregas appears to be Inter’s top target following the sudden departure of Simone Inzaghi, the Al-Hilal-bound coach who suffered a humiliating 5-0 Champions League final defeat by PSG a week after losing out on the Scudetto to Napoli on the final day.
Vieira, whose armband was inherited by a fresh-faced Fabregas at Arsenal two decades ago, could return to the club he represented between 2006 and 2010 should Inter fail to land their number one managerial target.
Genoa’s Inter Milan-linked boss Patrick Vieira is a big Cornet fan
As for Cornet, a tense wait faces a winger who appears to have no part to play in Graham Potter’s plans.
Vieira welcomed Cornet with open arms to the Luigi Ferraris. A pair of goals and one assist in just two Genoa starts, meanwhile, ensured that any fears of relegation to Serie B were comfortably dispelled despite a six-game winless run from April to May.
“He came here with the desire to help the team,” former Crystal Palace, Nice and Manchester City reserve coach Vieira said in January. “He wants to play. He misses the pitch.
“He is an ambitious boy and wants to return to the national team but to do so he must do well here. He is hungry for football and [has the] desire.”
Cornet has two years left on his contract at West Ham United.
The 2023 Conference League champions should bring in some sort of a fee, then, even if it is destined to fall well short of the £17 million they paid Burnley for the one-time Lyon star.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
