Opinions

No West Ham return for Collins

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OPINION

West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini shut down rumours of defender James Collins being recruited anytime soon by claiming there would be no players brought into the squad.

The current Hammers boss was asked about the 35-year-old centre-back possibly re-joining the club after he had spent time training with the first-team this week.

Pellegrini opted to respond in a very decisive manner and effectively ended any hope that Collins was set to be a Hammers player once again.

“The squad is ready. We are not bringing in any more players or letting any more players out,” said the experienced boss, as quoted by the club’s official website.

“James asked to train here and he was a player of West Ham of ten years, so the door is always open for him to work with our squad.”

The Sun previously reported on Thursday morning that Hammers chiefs were considering offering Collins a one-year deal in order to rejoin the club despite letting him go earlier in the summer upon his contract expiring.

While the experienced veteran will forever be in Hammers’ supporters hearts after making nearly 250 appearances for the club, Pellegrini would have been pushing the panic button if he sanction a deal to see the enforcer return.

The 35-year-old struggled for fitness due to injuries last season and made only 16 appearances for the Hammers across all competitions.

Collins also failed to consistently deliver the performances required of him and there were a few games which he no doubt were rather wiped from the history’s books.

While Manuel Pellegrini’s side have conceded six goals across their first two league games and have looked defensively vulnerable, it would have been a move made out of clear panic to recruit Collins’ in order to address the problem.

The defender who is currently a free agent wasn’t able to stop the Hammers shipping goals last season and would have not cured the problems currently being demonstrated at the back in the opening games of the season.

Therefore based on Pellegrini’s remarks on the available 6ft 2in tall enforcer (Source: Transfermarkt), it seems he has avoiding pushing the panic button at the London Stadium by ruling out Collins’ return.

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