Fans of Premier League club West Ham United have been critical of their tendency to sign players past their best – like ex-Manchester City ace Bacary Sagna.
West Ham United owner David Sullivan promised proven Premier League experience in the summer transfer market and he delivered.
Pablo Zabaleta, Joe Hart, Javier Hernandez and Marko Arnautovic arrived at the London Stadium with bags of know-how and a hatful of winners’ medals.
In truth, however, only Arnautovic can be considered an undisputed success right now. Hart’s rapid decline has continued with Adrian starting for David Moyes’ side for the last few months, while Zabaleta and Hernandez, although still impressing on occasion, are not the players they were in their Manchester heyday.
This, coupled with the ill-fated signings of Alvaro Arbeloa and Jose Fonte last season, has seen fans criticise the owners for signing players who seem to be past their best. West Ham, while looking for experience, are in danger of becoming a retirement home for the once top-class.
So it is probably a good thing that Bacary Sagna did not rock up at the London Stadium.
The French right-back was released by Manchester City last summer and only found a new club in February, when Serie A’s bottom side Benevento offered him a short-term contract.
Sagna told L’Equipe that he did have talks with West Ham, only for the Hammers to suddenly cut off contact and seemingly decide against offering the former Arsenal number 3 a deal.
Now, Sagna was a fine player in his day but, like Arbeloa, Zabaleta and Hart, is obviously on the decline and his signing would not have appeased fans wanting more youthful, hungry players with a point to prove.
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