OPINION
When West Ham made the decision to sell Javier Hernandez over the summer, there were a few raised eyebrows.
The Hammers may have spent a lot to bring in Sebastien Haller – and what a signing he has been so far by the way – but aside from the big Frenchman, Manuel Pellegrini looked remarkably understaffed up front without the little Mexican to bulk out his squad.
Sure, Albian Ajeti was brought in, but the 22-year-old was chronically inexperienced outside of his native Switzerland, and all in all, letting Chicharito go felt like a gamble.
But the latest report from Football.London journalist Sam Inkersole would seemingly go some way to justify the thought process behind the move.
He said: “Interestingly with [Xande] Silva, the decision to sell Javier Hernandez this summer was made in part thanks to the potential of the young Portuguese frontman.
“He is seen as the eventual replacement in the first team squad for Chicharito, that’s how highly-rated his is within the walls of West Ham.”
Now, Xande Silva is about as inexperienced as you can get in terms of Premier League centre forwards.
The 22-year-old has a grand total of 17 minutes to his name in the top flight, and while he may not have made any sort of grand impression during that brief cameo, he has certainly shown flashes of his potential.
During that game he managed two shots and a key pass, as well as being dispossessed just once, as per Whoscored.
Illness has disrupted his preparation for this season, of course, and it has probably put him back several weeks in terms of him making any kind of impact for the first team, but if Pellegrini is willing to show the level of faith that he has in him already, then there could be an awful lot to get excited about.
