Bilic discusses decision to let Enner Valencia join Everton, had considered him a key player

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Slaven Bilic has commented on his decision to let Enner Valencia sign for Everton.

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic

West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has told the club’s official website that he felt it was best to let Enner Valencia leave after a ‘damaged’ season.

The Hammers brought in one player on deadline day in Alvaro Arbeloa, but also allowed forward Valencia to leave the club to join Everton on loan with a view to a permanent deal next summer.

Enner Valencia celebrates scoring for West Ham

Valencia is seen as a player who can provide some support to Romelu Lukaku in the final third, and had fallen down the pecking order at the London Stadium after West Ham snapped up the likes of Sofiane Feghouli, Gokhan Tore, Andre Ayew, Jonathan Calleri and Simone Zaza.

The 26-year-old now heads to Goodison Park, and leaves the London Stadium having been something of a disappointment since his 2014 move from Pachuca.

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic

Valencia had starred at the World Cup in Brazil with all three of Ecuador’s goals at the competition, but has struggled to live up to the hype with just ten goals in 66 games for the club.

Manager Bilic has now explained just why he allowed Valencia to leave, just two years after West Ham forked out £12m to sign him, as claimed by BBC Sport.

Bilic told the club’s official website that he actually marked Valencia down as one of the club’s key players when he took the job last summer, and the forward knows that he is still rated at the London Stadium.

West Ham’s Enner Valencia celebrates scoring their second goal

However, the Croatian added that after a ‘damaged’ season last term through injury, it may be best for all parties to move on and go their separate ways.

“I like Enner as a player,” said Bilic. “When I was coming to the club, I marked him as one of our key players, so I rate him highly, and he knows that. His last season was not totally bad, but damaged with a couple of big injuries. We’ve got some new players there, he wanted to go and in the end, I think it’s a very good move for both. Sometimes the best outcome is to cut it and start a new beginning. That could help him, that could help us long-term as well,” he added.

Do you think West Ham made the right decision by letting Valencia leave?