West Ham’s start to the 2025/26 season has been nothing short of disastrous.
After a series of poor results in the Premier League and a shocking early exit from the EFL Cup, the Hammers are struggling to find any sort of rhythm.
Fans have been left frustrated by the team’s lack of quality on the pitch, with both new signings and long-standing stars failing to make the impact required.
Now, Premier League legend Wayne Rooney has spoken out, pinpointing exactly what he believes the club is missing.
Rooney Names Two Players Hammers Must Replace
The former England captain, speaking to BBC Sport, highlighted the absence of two key figures who have left West Ham in recent years. Rooney stressed that it isn’t about replacing current players, but rather filling the void left by some of the club’s most influential figures.
“Over the past 10 years, the success West Ham have had has been when you’ve got players like Mark Noble and Declan Rice — players who have quality on the ball,” Rooney explained. “They’re going to take the game by the scruff of the neck, lead the other players, and put tackles in, and that runs right through the team.”
Rooney made it clear that the Hammers currently lack that type of leader.
“That’s what West Ham are missing — that leader in there who’s going to do that for them,” he said.
However, he also cautioned against rushing young academy talents, like Rice and Noble, into the spotlight during a difficult campaign.
“If you’re a winning team, no problem. Throw them in — that’s when you see young players thrive. But you have to be a little bit more careful with teams who are struggling,” he added.
With West Ham languishing near the bottom of the table and their star players underperforming, Rooney’s comments underline a crucial issue: the club needs leadership, experience, and quality in key positions if they are to arrest their alarming slide.
