da poker： The Premier League season is only 15 games old, but it’s already been something of a roller coaster for West Ham United.
da betcris： For the first couple of months, with Graham Potter in charge, it looked like the East Londoners were destined for relegation and unable to buy a win.
However, over the last few weeks, new boss Nuno Espírito Santo has helped to turn the ship around, and while they’re still in the relegation zone, the Hammers have lost just one of their last six games.
However, there are still problems on and off the pitch, including the fact that they’ll likely have to sell Lucas Paqueta in the summer, but before they do that, West Ham should get rid of someone else in the winter window.
Why West Ham should sell Paqueta
Now, the first thing to say here is that, at his very best, Paqueta has a claim to be one of the most exciting and talented attacking midfielders in the Premier League.
However, the problem is that he hasn’t been at, or really anywhere near, his scintillating best for quite some time.
For example, while he managed a brilliant haul of 15 goal involvements in 23/24, he then followed that up with just five last season, and so far this year, he’s produced just four.
Paqueta’s recent form
Seaon
24/25
25/26
Appearances
36
14
Minutes
2536′
1217′
Goals
5
4
Assists
0
0
All Stats via Transfermarkt
In other words, it’s hard to make a case that his performances over the last year and a half have justified his sizable £150k-per-week wage.
Speaking of his contract, the next reason the Hammers should probably be looking to sell the former Lyon star is the fact that he’ll have just a year left on his deal in the summer.
Therefore, he’ll either need to be handed another bumper contract or be sold to protect his valuation.
Finally, the 28-year-old revealed that he almost forced a move back to Flamengo in the summer. So it’s not impossible to imagine he’ll want to leave sooner or later, which comes back to the idea that the Hammers should be the ones to instigate his departure at the end of the season and protect his value.
With all that said, there is another player, someone far less important to the side, that West Ham should look to move on before Paqeuta.
The West Ham flop Nuno has to sell
With West Ham improving over the last month or so, fewer players are sticking out for the wrong reasons, but one who continues to disappoint is Max Kilman.
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The former Wolverhampton Wanderers star joined the Hammers for a whopping £40m fee in the summer of 2024.
Since then, while there have been the odd moments in which he’s looked like a quality centre-back, the Englishman has largely been a flop and someone who has been more of a hindrance at the back than a help.
For example, in the 2-0 defeat at home to Brentford earlier this season, the 6 foot 4 titan was partly to blame for both goals and looked miles off the pace and, in the words of one content creator, was “shocking.”
Worryingly, his former manager, Gary O’Neil, went into detail about some of his weaknesses and described him as someone who likes to “switch off” during games.
That does not sound like the kind of defender you want in the backline when fighting to stay in the Premier League, and, based on reports, it seems Nuno would agree.
According to a story from earlier this week, the Irons would be willing to part ways with the centre-back should someone make an offer of around £25m, and reports from earlier in the season claimed that Crystal Palace were interested in the defender.
On top of the eye test, another reason the club should perhaps lower their asking price is the fact that his underlying numbers are dire.
According to FBref, the Chelsea-born dud ranks in the bottom 45% of centre-backs in the Premier League for pass completion, the bottom 18% for tackles, the bottom 14% for progressive passes, and the bottom 9% for interceptions, all per 90.
Ultimately, while West Ham will likely need to sell Paqueta in the summer, they must sell Kilman first, as he simply isn’t good enough.
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