West Ham currently have four first team players and 12 under-21 players out on loan this season, and some are showing their worth, which could make them potential options for Graham Potter next season.
In a squad that’s struggled this season, we could see Potter turn his attention to players who are out on loan, just as he did with James Ward-Prowse, who was recalled last month from Nottingham Forest.
Let’s take a look at some of the standouts below:
Nayef Aguerd
Aguerd joined La Liga side Real Sociedad last summer and has enjoyed regular football with the Spanish outfit.
Sociedad currently sit in a respectable 9th place in the league and are also through to the round of 16 of the Europa League, where they take on Manchester United.
Aguerd has been a key member of the Real Sociedad squad, missing just two league games and one Europa League game all season.
There’s a reason the Moroccan has continued to be picked by head coach Imanol Alguacil, with the defender being Sociedad’s best performer this season according to SofaScore, averaging a 7.18 rating.
With Potter short of options at the back, Aguerd should certainly be considered a cost-effective option for next season, particularly considering the form the 28-year-old is in.
George Earthy
Earthy broke into West Ham’s first team at the back end of last season, featuring four times in all competitions off the bench.
The 20-year-old put in some impressive performances in those appearances, which included his first goal for the first-team in a 3-1 win over Luton.
Many West Ham fans will have been disappointed to see the academy product go out on loan to Bristol City in the summer, but perhaps regular game time is what the player needed.
Earthy has struggled for regular game time, however, often coming off the bench for the 8th placed Championship side. But he was a recent hero for the Robins, coming off the bench to score a brace in the final 20 minutes against Middlesbrough, which won them the game 2-1.
The boyhood West Ham fan is yet to play a full 90 minutes for the Championship side, but with his recent heroics, we could see him feature more in the latter stages of the season.
Callum Marshall
Northern Ireland striker Callum Marshall was sent out on load to League One side Huddersfield Town last summer, and the 20-year-old has been a key asset to the team currently sitting in 5th place.
Marshall has played in every game he’s been available for the Terriers and is currently joint top goal scorer for the playoff-placed side, with seven league goals to his name.
The forward also has also produced a further three assists and is continuing to be one of the first names on the team sheet for the West Yorkshire side.
Marshall’s impressive season in League One will surely give Potter some food for thought when submitting his squad for next season, with the striker position being an area West Ham are particularly thin at the moment.
