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West Ham must not sanction Hernandez sale

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OPINION

For West Ham United, it’s important that they build on their undoubted progress this season by keeping the positive pieces of their squad and bringing in exciting new recruits in the future.

What they don’t want to do is give up first team players who still have a part to play at the club, which is why Hammers fans will have been so relieved to see the club’s stance on striker Javier Hernandez this week.

Sky Sports reported on Tuesday that the club want to keep hold of the Mexican international despite interest in him from Spanish giants Valencia.

It probably goes without saying that it is imperative that the club keep hold of the 30-year-old. Yes, he’s in his thirties now and, yes, he’s had problems with injury and illness this campaign, but he remains the club’s most natural goalscorer.

With all the uncertainty surrounding the future of Hernandez’s strike partner Marko Arnautovic it would be madness to consider selling the former Manchester United man now.

He’s not really had a fair crack of the whip this term, and that’s worth remembering when fans consider his fortunes at the London Stadium in recent times. He hasn’t influenced proceedings as much this season because he hasn’t been able to.

Despite his absences he still has five goals and two assists in 16 games in all competitions this campaign, which is not a horrible record in the circumstances. He has been unlucky throughout his time in East London, but he remains a poacher of the highest order and is someone the club should be looking to build around.

He is very much a positive piece of the Hammers jigsaw, and if he can just find full fitness for a sustained period of time he could achieve big things in this talented West Ham team.

Manuel Pellegrini is building something special at the London Stadium and Hernandez deserves to be a part of it. The club must not adhere to Valencia’s wishes no matter what they offer.

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