OPINION
West Ham allowed one of their top prospects to leave the club in the summer window, with Domingos Quina making a £1million switch to Premier League rivals Watford.
Quina has gone on to become a first-team player at Vicarage Road, making nine appearances so far this season for the Hornets, scoring twice and registering one assist.
The 19-year-old obviously still has a long way to go to reach his potential, but his impact for Watford this season has led many to believe the Hammers made a mistake in letting him leave.
His exit was not all down to the club, with Quina seeking first-team guarantees which could not be given, but West Ham must avoid the same mistakes as they prepare to sign his Portugal youth international teammate, Mesaque Dju.
As reported by football.london West Ham correspondent Sam Inkersole on Twitter, 5’10” Benfica youngster Dju [Transfermarkt] is jetting into London to seal a free transfer to the London Stadium on Monday.
Portugal U17 & U19 international Mesaque Dju is on his way to London today to sort out personal terms with #WHUFC ahead of a free transfer from Benfica. Will join up with the U23s in east London. The winger/forward Played with Domingos Quina for the U19 European Champions.
— Sam Inkersole (@Sam_InkersoleTM) January 28, 2019
The 19-year-old is set to link up with the club’s Under-23 side before hopefully progressing to the first-team in time, and hopes will be high for his ability to do so.
For that to happen however, the club will have to handle his development in the right way, and the progress of players like Xande Silva – another young Portuguese talent – suggests that the academy is in good hands at the moment.
That being said, expectations will have to be managed correctly in order to avoid another situation like that seen with Quina, who looks like he could go on to become a real star.
Obviously these are two totally different players in question, but the parallels are definitely there to be drawn, and West Ham must take the necessary steps in order to prevent history repeating itself with Dju.