Football.London have compiled a list of players who could be sold in the summer to help fund our necessary signings, but there is one name on the chopping block who should be kept, even if his importance at the London Stadium is not obvious.
The online publication believes a fire sale of first-team stars will be necessary, as we are unlikely to be flashing the same amount of cash as a year ago, thanks to the financial situation we find ourselves in.
As such, a range of players – in fact, no fewer than ten – are suggested to be on the chopping block when the current season draws to a close.
Andy Carroll and Pablo Zabaleta are obvious names with their contracts set to expire, while Pedro Obiang and Lucas Perez are expected to leave East London if we can find someone willing to pay what the club values them at.
Javier Hernandez and Marko Arnautovic are also mentioned, with the Mexican and the Austrian’s high wages noted as reasons why they may be sold, and a belief that we would snap anyone’s hand off if they offered us £40m for the former Stoke winger.
There is also doubt over Adrian and Edimilson Fernandes’ future in Claret and Blue, with the Spanish goalkeeper firmly Lukasz Fabianski’s number two, and the young midfielder a potential £10million option if we were to sell.
Then there are Jordan Hugill and Arthur Masuaku, who could prove trickier to cash-in on due to their respective form, but the DR Congo international left-back should actually be retained, even if he is not every supporter’s ideal option for Manuel Pellegrini’s first-team.
Sure, he is slightly hap-hazard defensively, but if we find ourselves in a similar scenario next year where the midfield is ravished by injuries, having Winston Reid, Angelo Ogbonna, Issa Diop, and Fabian Balbuena all on option could give the boss the possibility to play five-at-the-back, with Masuaku occupying the full-back slot.
There, he could perform at his best – going forward – without as much defensive responsibility holding him back.
It was also while Masuaku was in the starting XI, before New Years, that we saw the best from Felipe Anderson, as the Brazilian had support on the flank, more so than Aaron Cresswell has since been able to offer.
That was hammered home at Old Trafford last time out, in fact, where Anderson finally broke his Premier League goal drought, and Masuaku won each of his five tackles, and four of his six attempted dribbles.
Defensive season averages between Masuaku and Cresswell also favour the shunned 25-year-old, as he has recorded 3.2 successful tackles per ninety from 4.2 attempts to Cresswell’s 1.6 from 2.3, and 2.2 interceptions to 1.2.
