West Ham captain Mark Noble has revealed that there will be “perhaps four or five” players leaving the club at the end of the season.
Having began the season with four defeats from as many games, Manuel Pellegrini’s side have picked themselves back up and can finish as high as ninth with a win over Watford on the final day of the Premier League season.
Writing in a column for the Evening Standard, Noble detailed what the club plans to do to retain the same level of performance they have achieved this term.
“There will be some players leaving — perhaps four or five — and others coming in,” the 32-year-old revealed. I think it’s needed, if I’m honest. We need some more hungry young players who want do well for the club.
“It can be a bit premature to say your goodbyes because frequently players don’t move on until well into pre-season.”
OPINION
As Noble points out, young signings who want to embed themselves within the team and take it to the next level are exactly what West Ham need. Pellegrini began that trend last season with the acquisition of 22-year-old centre-back Issa Diop, who has proved to be a steal and has acquitted himself excellently at the back for the Hammers this season. Add to that the introduction to the team of Declan Rice and there is an even greater success story from this season for West Ham, with Rice having become a key man in the club’s midfield while going on to earn international recognition with the England squad. There are, of course, doubts over the future of Rice. Will West Ham be able to keep hold of him if a big-money offer from the top six comes their way? It’s unlikely. But with a few more young signings, this Hammers side can continue on its upward trajectory.