West Ham United will look to refresh Manuel Pellegrini’s squad in the summer, and it could include Arthur Masuaku heading for the exit door, according to a report in the Tuesday edition of the Daily Mirror, picked up by HITC.
The report, published on February 12 (page 56), suggests the Hammers will listen to any offers that come their way in the next transfer window for the Slaven Bilic signing, who cost the Hammers a reported £6million in 2016.
Since putting pen to paper, the DR Congo international has never proven himself to be a regularly competent defensive left-back, though, and has often only looked comfortable when deployed in an attacking role.
Yet, despite his lapses in ability, Masuaku has featured in 17 of West Ham’s 26 Premier League games this term, the 11th most of anyone in the squad.
He has also recorded the fourth most successful tackles of anyone in the squad, which edges the likes of Pablo Zabaleta and Fabian Balbuena.
Masuaku also shadows Aaron Cresswell in terms of who has played at left-back, with a minutes per tackle ratio far exceeding that of his English counterpart, suggesting the issue with Pellegrini’s defence far exceeds the problems Masuaku creates and a far superior alternative has to be brought in as his replacement.
