Lucas Paqueta isn’t the only West Ham star who will leave the club in the summer transfer window, according to former Hammers striker Frank McAvennie.
The east Londoners are about to embark on a new era at the London Stadium, with David Moyes set to be replaced by Julen Lopetegui.
There has been an increasing feeling that a change of manager is needed for a while now, with West Ham’s season petering out during Moyes’ second spell in charge.
While Lopetegui will be desperate to bring in the right players this summer, there are also current stars for the Hammers who he will want to keep hold of.
Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie claimed that Mohammed Kudus could also leave as well as Lucas Paqueta at the end of the season, in a worrying update:
“It would be massive. He [Paqueta] is going to go anyway, him and Kudus, we know that. If Paqueta wants to go, fine. I like him, he’s a wonderful talent. Kudus as well.
“I would like to see them stay another year and let the new manager have a try. We know who it is, just give him a try. It [his style of play] might be right up their street.”
To see both Kudus and Paqueta move on this summer would be so tough to accept for West Ham supporters, with the pair integral to their team’s success of late.
Paqueta does look extremely likely to leave, with a switch to Manchester City on the cards – a move nearly came to fruition last summer, too – which is going to leave a big void, given his combination of technical brilliance and work ethic.
The hope is that Kudus remains at the London Stadium for at least another season, though, considering he only arrived from Ajax last summer, but it is easy to envisage his head being turned by an offer from a huge club such as Liverpool, who have linked with him.
Lopetegui has to do all he can to convince the Ghana international to stay, and Paqueta for that matter, having registered 13 goals contributions (seven goals and six assists) in 26 Premier League starts this season.
