OPINION
When clubs loan players out to lower league clubs what they want to see is progression and regular football for their player.
Well, West Ham United have certainly fulfilled that criteria with their loan of young winger Grady Diangana to Championship high flyers Grady Diangana. In fact, they’ve hit the jackpot.
The 21-year-old has been in absolutely scintillating form under former Hammers boss Slaven Bilic, prompting speculation that the Premier League outfit will recall him in January.
Former West Ham academy manager Terry Westley, though, believes he should be left at The Hawthorns: “There’s a clause in the deal allowing a recall in January but I’d say straight away that he should stay where he is and learn more under Slaven,” he told Claret & Hugh.
Westley has got his verdict spot on, here. The progress Diangana has been making in the second tier has been phenomenal, why recall him just so he can warm the bench for Andriy Yarmolenko, Manuel Lanzini and Felipe Anderson? Then there’s summer signing Pablo Fornals and Michail Antonio who will back from injury by January.
Really, what is the point in recalling him? He’s in the form of his young career and can only benefit from being left in the Midlands where he’s playing regularly and gaining confidence by the bucketload.
The statistics tell you all you need to know about how good the youngster has been this season. As per WhoScored.com, Diangana has scored four times and grabbed three assists in just six starts for the Baggies.
Meanwhile, the Englishman is averaging 1.8 shots and 1.8 key passes per game, while his 2.6 dribbles per outing show you that he is riding high in the Championship.
Simply put, this is a young man way high on confidence right now. So, if it ain’t broke why fix it? This is a potential January arrival best left alone.
