OPINION
When it comes to Grady Diangana, it’s hard to know how West Ham chiefs must be feeling right now.
On the one hand, to see him ripping up the Championship with West Brom while the Hammers are flirting so perilously with the drop zone in the top flight must be quite galling, but on the other, without him playing the regular football that he is right now, his talent might have gone under the radar for a whole lot longer.
Either way, there’s no denying that he is on fire at the moment, and his Whoscored rating of 7.23 makes him one of the most consistent performers in the second tier this season.
That has, of course, led to chatter from some West Ham fans who are desperate to see him return to the capital in the January transfer window.
From West Brom’s point of view, that would be a real blow, and an upsettingly reminiscent repeat of last season, when Leicester City recalled Harvey Barnes.
According to Don Goodman, however, they would have much less to worry about this term if the Hammers were to decide they wanted Diangana back.
Speaking during the Baggies’ clash with Swansea City on Sunday (Sky Sports Main Event, 13.30, December 7th), the pundit said: “As good as Diangana is, Kyle Edwards would be a perfect replacement really, so they maybe wouldn’t suffer as much as they did last season.”
Homegrown Edwards is a real talent in his own right, and the significance for the Irons is clear.
Negotiations with West Brom would surely be a lot easier to stomach for both sides if Diangana’s departure from the Midlands didn’t have such a catastrophic effect on Albion’s hopes of promotion.
As such, West Ham fans may just be a tad more optimistic.
