OPINION
For all of the players that have proved to be a major disappointment to West Ham United this season, perhaps none offers worse value for money that big money flop Javier Hernandez.
The Mexican international is on a reported £140,000-per-week at the club [Source: Spotrac], yet he has managed just six goals in 24 appearances this campaign and just one in his last nine. That’s despite getting an increase in first team football with Marko Arnautovic largely frozen out post-January.
It’s no surprise, then, to see Football Fan Cast report on Friday that the former Manchester United man is set to depart the Hammers in a striking overhaul this summer.
You’d have to say that the club have got that decision spot on. Simply put, it’s about time that West Ham move on from the 30-year-old and stop spending laughable amounts of money on him.
In total, since joining from Bayer Leverkusen, the Mexican has bagged just 14 goals in 57 games in a claret and blue shirt. Those are Carlton Cole numbers, not the sort of thing you’d expect from your highest earner at the club.
Arnautovic and Felipe Anderson have both scored more than him this term, while Lucas Perez and Grady Diangana are scoring at a more efficient rate.
Hernandez is an experienced guy, he probably realises that he’s not been good enough this season. Sky Sports reported in January that Spanish giants Valencia were interested in him, and if that offer is still around in the summer then West Ham should bite their hands off.
It’s time to move on, that’s the bottom line. Hernandez isn’t bad player, but if the Hammers are to fulfil their ambitions they need better than the sub-par ‘Chicharito’.
