OPINION
Now that West Ham United defender Fabian Balbuena is back in the fold, things must be looking pretty bleak for Angelo Ogbonna.
The 30-year-old has been decent in his teammate’s absence, there is no doubt about that, but Manuel Pellegrini will obviously be tempted to reunite Balbuena’s partnership with Issa Diop, something which thrived at the start of the season.
Claret and Hugh claimed a few days ago that Pellegrini wants to strengthen his central defence in the summer, something which also does not bode well for Ogbonna. It implies that a centre-back is likely to leave the club in order to make room for this potential new recruit.
Well, that departure should be Ogbonna. Pellegrini must seal a loan exit for the defender, as his first team chances are only going to decrease if the manager is true on his word and signs a player to add to the depth in this position.
Ogbonna has shown flashes of promise recently, and that just cannot be ignored. He has shown that he has improved enough not to warrant a place on the bench, but it looks like Pellegrini may eventually have his hands tied. He will be pushed down the pecking order with a new arrival.
That being said, if West Ham made him available for loan, there would be a flurry of clubs wanting to snap him up. They would have been alerted to his good form lately, which means that securing a temporary move should not be a problem for the club.
It may be his only option come the summer. The £70,000-a-week [Spotrac] player’s recent run in the team will have got him a taste for regular action, so a move away – albeit temporarily, giving the Hammers the chance to recall him if need be – is a no-brainer for everyone involved.
