OPINION
West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini should feel let down by Javier Hernandez after the 31-year-old handed in a transfer request.
The Daily Mail reported on Saturday that the Hammers forward has taken the action of requesting his exit from the Hammers with him closing on a move to La Liga club Sevilla.
The newspaper claimed the Hammers were holding out for £8million for Hernandez with Sevilla only currently offering £7million.
While that suggests Hernandez has handed in a transfer request in order to force West Ham to lower their price, there may be another reason why he has felt the need to make it clear he wants to leave.
The Daily Mail may have claimed that Hernandez’s move to Sevilla is still on, but Spanish outlet Marca claimed the attacker’s exit has been blocked due to the recent injury to Michail Antonio.
This means it’s logical that Hernandez feels like he has to force a move as Pellegrini is now very aware that he has to keep the Mexico international on board, as he is already an attacker down despite the season still being in its early stages.
Yet despite Antonio’s injury meaning Hernandez will likely get more minutes than previously expected, the player still feels the need to leave and Pellegrini should feel let down.
After all the Hammers manager has continued to give the 31-year-old chance after chance despite him not delivering the goals, as Hernandez managed only eight goals in 28 outings in his 2018/19 campaign.
In fact, the 31-year-old may have been clinical in his outing against Brighton this season in order to score, but he’s only averaged a rating of 6.30 across the 107 minutes he has played. (Source: WhoScored)
Yet having a proven striker whose knows the Premier League to call upon, is better than not having one.
However, Hernandez has put Pellegrini in a no-win situation.
As if the Hammers manager grants his exit then he could soon regret it as he’ll be short of options, and if he does keep him then he may have a disruptive unhappy player in the club’s dressing room.
So with that mind, you feel Hernandez has dealt Pellegrini quite the headache.
