West Ham fans react as Paul Merson comments on Cheikhou Kouyate’s Crystal Palace move

Kouyate left West Ham to join Palace earlier this summer.

Paul Merson has criticised West Ham United on Sky Sports’ The Debate for selling Cheikhou Kouyate to Crystal Palace for a reported £11million this summer – and some Hammers fans have blasted Merson for his comments.

The Independent reported last month that Senegal international and World Cup star Kouyate had left West Ham to join Roy Hodgson’s Palace for a fee believed to be in the region of £11million, signing a four-year deal at Selhurst Park.

The 28-year-old spent four years at West Ham after Sam Allardyce signed the player from Belgian giants Anderlecht in 2014, eventually clocking up 147 appearances for the Hammers.

Merson told The Debate that: “I think if there was one player that could get around midfield and hurry people up, it was Kouyate who has gone to Palace. He went for a cup of tea, I think it was about £8million, which is nothing.”

The Hammers have since signed Carlos Sanchez and Jack Wilshere to fill the void left by Kouyate, while Edimilson Fernandes has moved on loan to Serie A side Fiorentina.

Some West Ham fans reacted to Merson’s comments, with many disagreeing with the former Arsenal player and now Sky Sports pundit as fans believe Kouyate was not as good as Merson claims.

Indeed, one fan Tweeted: “You clearly haven’t watched him for the past few seasons”.