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.
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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”.
Please stop with this Kouyate business, Paul. You clearly haven’t watched him for the past few seasons.
— Marko_Lanzini (@Marko_Lanzini) September 3, 2018
I think all these pundits still watch highlights of 15/16 season. Kouyate hasn’t run since then
— 父 Steve 父 (@steve_whufc7) September 3, 2018
We watch West Ham week in week out, trust me Kouyate was not the answer
— SCRU LOVE (@SCRULOVE) September 3, 2018
Paul doesn’t even know what he is talking about
— Fergus O’ Connell (@fergusoconnell) September 3, 2018
He didn’t watch West Ham last season.
— Zack Walker ⚒ (@zackwalker2003) September 3, 2018
He didn’t watch West Ham last season.
— Zack Walker ⚒ (@zackwalker2003) September 3, 2018
How is he even a pundit? He’s embarrassing. Can they not do better then Paul Merson? The guys about as good a pundit as Mark Lawrenson and Garf Crooks
— ⚒️ Ben ⚒️ (@beniboi86) September 4, 2018
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