OPINION
After a summer of change at West Ham in 2018 it seems as though Manuel Pellegrini is not yet finished fine tuning his squad in east London.
A host of new and big name arrivals joined the Irons in what was a new era under the Chilean boss, with some of the existing stars facing competition in quality that had been missing in east London before.
After a hit and miss season – with many believing that the Hammers have failed to hit the heights they should have with the talent they have at their disposal – the upcoming transfer window promises plenty for the West Ham faithful to sink their teeth into, both in terms of incoming arrivals and exits.
The Sun report that there are several first team stars set for the exit, with attackers Javier Hernandez, Lucas Perez and Marko Arnautovic set to depart, while midfielder Pedro Obiang is also set to see his four year time at the club come to an end.
On £55,000-a-week (source: Spotrac) the 26-year-old might well feel he has plenty to still offer the Irons and while he might be in and out of the first team under Pellegrini, he showed exactly what he can do in a goal scoring performance for Equatorial Guinea in a 4-1 win on Friday night.
Hammer Pedro Obiang 85th minute goal Equatorial Guinea v Sudan pic.twitter.com/9AW0fU0DGM
— West Ham Football (@westhamfootball) March 23, 2019
However, his balanced performance and composed finish is not likely to save him this summer – he is a drain on resources and must face the axe to help the club reach new heights.
A decent servant, he just lacks the quality to warrant the money spent on his big money contract and while he might have impressed his international teammates and fans, it was a case of too little, too late and his time at West Ham is rightfully coming to an end.
