Paul Brown has offered his verdict on Said Benrahma’s future at West Ham United, admitting the Irons would only let him leave in January if they lined up a replacement.
The Algerian winger has been little more than a bit part player so far this season, starting only four games in the Premier League, failing to find the net and managing only two assists in 20 appearances in all competitions.
It seems likely that the 28-year-old will depart the London Stadium when the January window opens and while freelance journalist Brown admits he would be keen on a move, he doesn’t think David Moyes will let him depart without a replacement.
As quoted by Give Me Sport (30 December) he said: “I think it’s clear that Benrahma is going to struggle to start many games for the rest of the season for West Ham. He went through a little spell not so long ago where he looked like he had nailed down a first-team spot.
“But since then, the club have signed new players and I think the three forwards that they’re using at the moment in Bowen, Kudus and Paqueta, in whatever role, seem to all be ahead of him.
“I can understand why he might want to go. I don’t think West Ham would be terribly keen to weaken their squad in January. So, if he was to leave, I think it would only be allowed if they had somebody lined up to come in and fill that position.
“I do get the feeling that he’s quite keen to go so I think it’s ‘watch this space’ with him.”
Watch this space
West Ham still have plenty of football to play and lots to play for in the second half of the campaign and it would be naive of the Hammers to leave themselves short of options by letting Benrahma depart the London Stadium in January.
Whether it will be sustained or not remains to be seen but the Irons have found themselves in the hunt for the European places once again this season and are into the knockout stages of the Europa League.
All of this is before their FA Cup campaign gets underway and it is plausible that the Irons may be battling in three competitions for months to come yet. That much football requires strength in depth and Benrahma could provide exactly that.
It would be best to keep the Algerian in East London until the end of the season, but he might have to be convinced that would be the best move for his career.
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