{"id":4121,"date":"2026-05-05T08:36:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T08:36:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=4121"},"modified":"2026-05-05T08:36:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T08:36:20","slug":"only-six-players-will-truly-be-missed-if-west-ham-drop-as-major-rebuild-beckons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=4121","title":{"rendered":"Only six players will truly be missed if West Ham drop as major rebuild beckons"},"content":{"rendered":"


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There will be a plethora of player sales if West Ham are relegated this summer but the harsh reality is only six of them would truly be missed.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Hammers are now looking like the favourites to be relegated from the Premier League after a disastrous weekend of results.<\/p>\n

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West Ham\u2019s woeful 3-0 defeat at Brentford was compounded by Spurs winning away at Aston Villa while Leeds and Forest secured safety with emphatic victories over Burnley and Chelsea.<\/p>\n

The results leave the Hammers in a straight shootout with Tottenham to secure survival and Roberto De Zerbi\u2019s side hold the advantage now.<\/p>\n

West Ham fire sale looms but only six players will be missed<\/h2>\n

Spurs host Leeds next while West Ham face an Arsenal side back in form who know victory will put them on course for the Premier League title after Man City dropped points against Everton.<\/p>\n

West Ham trail Spurs by a point but it is effectively two points due to the east Londoners\u2019 inferior goal difference.<\/p>\n

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How do you FEEL about West Ham wanting to keep Nuno next season? \ud83d\ude33<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Jamie Carragher believes the Hammers can still beat Spurs to survival \u2013 but he is very much in the minority now.<\/p>\n

If West Ham are relegated there will be a fire sale of players to bridge the huge financial gap from falling off the Premier League gravy train.<\/p>\n

Especially as the Hammers have posted club record \u00a3104m losses, have further big losses on the way in their next accounts and owe an eye-watering \u00a3196m to other clubs in transfer instalments.<\/p>\n

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\"Nuno<\/div>
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West Ham\u2019s owners have confirmed player sales will be the first port of call if relegation to the Championship is confirmed.<\/p>\n

Of course it is the fans who suffer more than anyone when a club is demoted from the big time.<\/p>\n

Players will move on as they always do and it will force the Hammers into a major rebuild that is long overdue.<\/p>\n

The only consolation, though, is that very few of the squad which have failed supporters so badly will actually be missed.<\/p>\n

In fact fans would only be sad to see six of the current team leave.<\/p>\n

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Nuno still feels positive about West Ham\u2019s chances \u2013 but do YOU?<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\"Nuno<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

Jarrod Bowen<\/h2>\n

West Ham\u2019s relegation will bring the controversial decision to make Jarrod Bowen captain back into focus.<\/p>\n

Many believe quiet Bowen was the wrong choice and that relegation proves it. <\/p>\n

Whatever one\u2019s opinion on that, Bowen is still a West Ham legend and seeing him leave \u2013 which he almost certainly will given his England ambitions \u2013 will be heartbreaking.<\/p>\n

Especially as it means he now looks set to fall short of replacing Michail Antonio as West Ham\u2019s all-time leading Premier League goalscorer.<\/p>\n

West Ham\u2019s Prague hero has been the team\u2019s best and most consistent player since arriving for a bargain \u00a320.5m in January 2020.<\/p>\n

His tireless work rate, goals, assists and the fact he scored the goal which won the Hammers their only major trophy of what will now be the last 47 years, make him a living Hammers legend.<\/p>\n

Bowen has been woefully out of sorts for the last five months after carrying the team on his own for so long \u2013 but he has still been one of West Ham\u2019s key players.<\/p>\n

His departure will be felt more deeply than any other.<\/p>\n

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Thomas Soucek<\/h2>\n

West Ham\u2019s second best and most consistent performer after Bowen, having arrived in the same window over six years ago, Tomas Soucek is another legend who will likely be on his way.<\/p>\n

The big Czech fan favourite has cruelly been used as a scapegoat by many fans when West Ham have been going through tough times.<\/p>\n

But whether he is scoring vital goals in important games, putting his head where it hurts for the team or doing the selfless dirty work that often goes unnoticed and underappreciated, Soucek is a bona fide Hammers hero.<\/p>\n

Fans will certainly notice next season when there is a big Soucek-shaped hole in the team and their hearts.<\/p>\n

Matthew Fernandes<\/h2>\n

Mateus Fernandes has been West Ham\u2019s best player this season after his \u00a340m arrival from relegated Southampton last summer.<\/p>\n

Fernandes looks on course to suffer back-to-back relegations from the Premier League but has done more than most to try and prevent it.<\/p>\n

The young Portuguese midfielder has been brilliant for the most part, especially during West Ham\u2019s revival since January.<\/p>\n

The likes of Man United and Real Madrid are seriously interested in signing Fernandes this summer and the Hammers should be able to command a decent figure even if they drop.<\/p>\n

West Ham finally found a proper replacement for Declan Rice but the way the club has been run means they will now likely lose him after just one season.<\/p>\n

Axel Disasi<\/h2>\n

It says everything about the lack of quality and character in the West Ham squad that the fans will be devastated to lose a loan player who only arrived in February.<\/p>\n

Axel Disasi has been a rock and real leader for the Hammers since signing on loan for the rest of the season from Chelsea.<\/p>\n

His performances are a big reason West Ham even have the chance of survival at this stage.<\/p>\n

The way Disasi has celebrated tackles and blocks like goals has really endeared him to the Hammers faithful.<\/p>\n

West Ham fans were desperate to see the club keep Disasi for next season and the player was open to staying too.<\/p>\n

But the only chance of that happening was the Hammers remaining in the Premier League.<\/p>\n

So if they drop Disasi will be going.<\/p>\n

It took West Ham so long to find a defender fit to replace the likes of Kurt Zouma and Craig Dawson. The Irons finally managed it but relegation means his stay will be a very short one.<\/p>\n

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Photo by Rob Newell \u2013 CameraSport via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Konstantinos Mavropanos<\/h2>\n

Had you said to West Ham fans five months ago they would miss Konstantinos Mavropanos if he was sold you would have been laughed out of the room.<\/p>\n

The big Greek has always had all the attributes to be a Hammers cult hero and top Premier League defender.<\/p>\n

But his propensity to make costly errors in almost every game he played meant he was one of the first players fans wanted to see sold.<\/p>\n

Mavropanos\u2019 turnaround under Nuno Espirito Santo \u2013 and by the player\u2019s own admission since the arrival of Paco Jemez \u2013 has been remarkable.<\/p>\n

The former Arsenal defender has become a true West Ham hero of late with his brilliant defensive displays, bravery and goals.<\/p>\n

West Ham were planning to tie Mavropanos down to a new deal this summer.<\/p>\n

But the likes of AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund are interested and he will now almost certainly be sold if the club drops into the second tier.<\/p>\n

Crysencio Summerville<\/h2>\n

When West Ham look back at reasons they were relegated, not getting more out of Crysencio Summerville earlier in the season will be chief among them.<\/p>\n

The Dutchman caught fire under Nuno since January, scoring seven goals in 10 games.<\/p>\n

But an injury kept him out for three games and derailed his form and sharpness.<\/p>\n

Summerville has failed to score ever since and that is a big reason West Ham have not maintained the momentum they had going for survival.<\/p>\n

Rapid, exciting and skilful, Summerville was just starting to become the West Ham star he promised to be but that too looks set to be short-lived with a host of clubs in England and abroad set to bid for his services this summer.<\/p>\n

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