West Ham fans divided as announcement confirms star is leaving for a top club

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Many West Ham supporters have been left divided after a major announcement confirmed that one of their stars will be leaving the club for a top side.

Yet there is still no official communication from West Ham on the matter – despite the player saying his goodbyes.

Communication with fans has not always been a strong point for West Ham United.

Although that stems more from the club’s divisive board members than its hard-working media team.

Hammers fans are often critical of the club for failing to communicate with them on matters such as injuries.

West Ham have been accused of treating injury news like national secrets – in contrast to other Premier League clubs who offer regular, detailed updates when a key player suffers a significant issue.

Transfers are different, you would not expect to hear from any club – never mind West Ham – in an official capacity until an arrival or departure is decided.

There will be plenty of those at the London Stadium this summer.

West Ham fans left in dark over future of several stars

Graham Potter is planning a major overhaul to a West Ham side that finished a dismal 14th and has won just 15 of their last 57 Premier League matches in 18 months.

Four veteran players have already been released and Michail Antonio could follow them out of the West Ham exit according to a recent claim from Hammers reporter Roshane Thomas.

West Ham are looking to sell a number of players too in order to raise funds for signings.

There are also a number of players both on loan and out on loan.

West Ham have had Maxwel Cornet at Genoa and Nayef Aguerd at Real Sociedad.

The Hammers are looking to sell both with Aguerd making it clear he doesn’t want to return to West Ham.

Potter brought in Evan Ferguson from Brighton on loan in the winter window and inherited loanee Carlos Soler.

Things have simply not worked out for Ferguson, who did not register a single shot on target let alone a goal in four months with the Hammers.

Soler is slightly more complicated – especially given Potter’s recent actions.

The Spaniard was actually a breath of fresh air off the pitch since arriving from PSG.

Given his lack of game time across the season, the former Valencia star could be forgiven for simply going through the motions.

Yet many have likened Soler to his fellow Spaniard and friend Pablo Fornals for his positive attitude and the way he fully embraced being a West Ham player.

Unfortunately Soler has at times blown hot and cold where it matters most – on the pitch.

He suddenly became a key starter for Potter in April, taking the place of stars who are actually owned by West Ham, such as Tomas Soucek and Edson Alvarez.

Some felt that showed Potter wanted to keep the classy midfielder.

Announcement confirms Soler is leaving for top club

And Soler then made it clear he was open to staying at West Ham in a recent interview.

But West Ham fans are divided as an announcement confirms the star is leaving for a top club.

The Hammers have still not released an official announcement on the club’s website confirming Ferguson and Soler will be returning to their parent clubs.

Soler took it upon himself with a classy Hammers farewell.

But it was announced overnight by Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio that Serie A champions Napoli have initiated talks to sign the West Ham loan man.

It is claimed Antonio Conte is a big fan and Soler will be signed to play alongside Kevin De Bruyne for the newly-crowned Italian champions.

Besides the fact West Ham are yet to officially communicate what is happening with Soler, the news has divided supporters.

Many feel he did not produce enough to warrant West Ham signing him permanently.

Others feel he should have been retained, pointing out the irony that he is deemed good enough for the Italian champions but not the Hammers.

West Ham fans divided on decision to let Soler go

“Surely I can’t be the only one disappointed we’ve not signed him?!” West Ham fan account West Ham Views states.

“He understood the club/fans but also a decent little player.”

One Hammers fan took a sarcastic tone as he mocked the reaction of some of his fellow supporters.

“We must sign Soler, even though we all saw him play and he was incredibly average, but we must sign him, he’ll cook in Potter’s midfield, even though we’ve seen him in Potter’s midfield and he was incredibly average, but we must sign him.”

Another Hammer felt Soler was simply nothing special, adding: “Bang average and not good enough for us. He’s on 240k a week. Exactly the sort of player what we don’t need.”

That prompted more sarcasm from another West Ham fan in response to the Soler news.

“Yeah but he’s Spanish and extremely handsome so he must be good,” the supporter said.

One West Ham fan told other supporters to ‘get a grip’ if they are angry Soler has not been retained.

“People are really gagging for Carlos Soler to come back? Get a grip. Not the worst player I’ve seen at West Ham, but painfully average on extortionate wages,” he said.

“Wages to ability I would say he’s one of the worst personally,” another Hammer added.

One West Ham supporter pointed out that Soler was let down by the ability of the players around him.

He said: “He’d have done a lot better if we had a couple pacy midfielders around him but the set up was not ideal for his style of play.”

Hammers account The Boleyn Boys said Potter should have pushed to keep Soler.

“Disappointed to see Soler let go. Left with mixed reviews. I personally feel like he never got given a good run of games to really find any true form. One to keep an eye on!”

One Irons fan felt he was a ‘luxury player’, saying: “Often hid during games and he never fancied a 50/50 tackle, luxury player.”

But a fellow West Ham fan disagreed, saying he needed another season.

“Good player, think he was one that needed a second season to get used to the league,” the supporter said of Soler.

Soler’s contribution in ‘some games’ was acknowledged by another fan who thinks Napoli will suit him better.

“Had some good games for us but think he’s suited abroad where u get more time on the ball,” the fan said.

One fan summarised the Soler situation quite neatly, saying: “Think he’s a class act, but he hasn’t shown enough to be signed by us.”

It remains to be seen whether Napoli actually sign Soler on a permanent deal.

But with two years left on his £240k-per-week PSG contract, another loan seems most likely.