It’s unlikely that Andriy Yarmolenko will leave West Ham before the end of the January transfer window, according to Football.London‘s West Ham correspondent, Tom Clark.
The Ukraine international has become a regular feature off the bench for the Hammers this season, despite rarely making a meaningful impact when called upon.
The 32-year-old has so far made 20 appearances for David Moyes’ side in 2021/2022, but his only goal contributions have come via a goal and an assist in the 2-0 Europa League victory over Rapid Vienna. In the Premier League, the winger has been limited to just 84 minutes of action across 11 appearances off the bench and is yet to start a league fixture this term.
But despite becoming a back-up player and a regular in Europa League games against so-called weaker opposition, Clark believes Yarmolenko will remain at the club for the rest of the season before leaving on a free transfer.
Speaking in an interview on this week’s We Are West Ham Podcast:” “He’s too expensive, no one is going to come in for him [in January], they might take him for free but they’re not going to match his wages. So why would he then want to halve his wages to go off somewhere when he’s got another six months left.
“He does have a bit of experience, he’s a regular in the Premier League, he does come off the bench in the Premier League. But that’s kind of his level now, he’s been playing in Europe against teams that aren’t great but they’re not awful, and he’ll play against Kidderminster if he’s still at the club, which I fully expect him to be until the summer and then he’ll move on.
“He is what he is. He’s got a languid style, he’s not a sprinter, and he shouldn’t be West Ham’s go-to substitute when trying to get a goal in the Premier League, that’s for sure.
“But I don’t think there’s too much harm having around the club, he’s a popular guy. The players like him, he’s a popular fella in the dressing room and speaks a couple of languages.
“He absolutely isn’t one kicking up a problem with being on the bench, he knows he’s a squad player.”
There have been suggestions among the Hammers fanbase that Moyes should look to cash-in on Yarmolenko this winter but, as Clark explains, his wages – thought to be around £115k-a-week – would no doubt be a turn off for any potential suitors.
Moreover, David Moyes’ squad remains precariously thin ahead of the second-half of the season and allowing a squad player to leave without having the time to adequately replace them would further add to Moyes’ personnel issues.
