OPINION
Cheikhou Kouyate’s display against Manchester United on Thursday made him look like a car that had run out of fuel, and after a terrible season the exit door may be his best option.
The 28-year-old has featured 35 times for the Hammers this season, scoring twice, while creating three goals but has more often than not, looked off the pace.
The defensive midfielder has looked so woeful that Football.London previously reported in April that the club could explore the idea of selling him in the summer.
The football outlet claimed that as Kouyate had signed a five-year deal in 2016, when he seemed like a completely different player, the Hammers could get a decent fee from his sale to help them improve.
The midfielder in the 115 appearances he had made for the Hammers ahead of this season, Kouyate looked capable of being a steely presence in the club’s midfield for many seasons to come as he constantly foiled the opposition’s attempted attacks.
However after watching his display against Manchester United, it’s hard to see how his exit is not the best option for both parties to take, unless he shows something else by upping his performance in the last game of the season against Everton.
The 28-year-old midfielder was miles off the pace against Man United in the first half and looked like he attempted to get himself about the pitch in the second half, only not to be successful in his attempts.
Kouyate may be part of a team that got a clean sheet against Jose Mourinho’s side on Thursday, the game ended 0-0, but he can’t really claim that he played a part.
Therefore David Moyes either needs to witness an energetic Kouyate putting in a blinder of a performance that he was previously capable of against Everton or simple wave goodbye to him as soon as possible.
