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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…
West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini has hinted that the club could keep Javier Hernandez this summer, per the club’s official website.
What’s the word?
Football FanCast understands that the Hammers deemed the Mexico international expendable at the start of the transfer window.
However, developments since have seen Lucas Perez and Andy Carroll depart the club, while Marko Arnautovic forced a move to Shanghai SIPG.
A deal for Sebastian Haller, Arnautovic’s direct replacement, has cost the club an initial £45m that could rise to £50m, per sources, and Pellegrini has now suggested that the Mexico international will be retained.
He said: “We signed Sebastian Haller because we need a striker and he is an important striker for our squad,” he began. “He had a very good season in the Bundesliga and Haller will play more as a centre forward, but he can also play as a winger so we have another option on the wing.
“When you compare the squad list to last season, we need players in his position. We lost Marko Arnautovic, Andy Carroll and Lucas Perez already this summer.
“So, we needed to find a new one and we have different options now. He is not only a box player, he will play well outside of the box. It will be his first season in England and I know he will be a good striker for our team.
“We also have Michail Antonio and Javier Hernandez too. I think we are going to have a good squad and now we have to find the right system.”
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Pellegrini U-turn
This is not surprising but it could turn out to be a mistake.
Even Hernandez himself admitted earlier this summer that he could depart the Irons, with his agent actively attempting to find him a move.
Now, though, it seems Pellegrini has accepted he will need to keep him around for the upcoming campaign, including him in his plans alongside Antonio.
Chicharito is, of course, a proven goalscorer and has netted 16 goals in 61 outings for the club, and perhaps it is simply a case of no club being willing to come forward with a bid.
But, given the fact that the player himself was happy to find a new home and the Irons are crying out for a refreshed forward line, one has to imagine the gaffer is not too happy to see him stay.
