Report suggests Diafra Sakho questioned West Ham boss David Moyes over £50,000 contract clause

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Diafra Sakho was picked on the West Ham United bench for their Carabao Cup clash with Premier League rivals Arsenal on Tuesday.

Diafra Sakho

According to a report from the Daily Mail, Diafra Sakho had to be persuaded to take his place on the West Ham bench after a pre-match conversation with David Moyes supposedly left the striker no longer wanting to be a part of their squad for their Carabao Cup tie with Arsenal on Tuesday.

The Mail reports that Sakho had been set to start the game at the Emirates but then became involved in a discussion with Moyes regarding why he had not been playing more regularly in the Premier League – with the forward suspecting that a specific clause in his contract was the reason.

David Moyes

According to the Mail, Sakho signed a new deal in the summer that means that he receives a £50,000 bonus every time he starts a top flight game for the Irons.

With the 27-year-old yet to make a start in the Premier League this season, making 14 appearances as a substitute, he reportedly wanted to discuss the situation with Moyes, and was subsequently demoted to the bench, according to the Mail.

It must be mentioned that the Mail confirm that West Ham have denied that the clause in Sakho’s contract has anything to do with his lack of starts in the top flight this season.

The conversation however, then saw the Senegal international decide that he did not want to play any part in the game, the Mail reports, but ultimately, he was talked around and convinced to be amongst the substitutes for the game – which saw Arsenal book their place in the last four of the competition with a 1-0 win.

In fairness to Sakho, with four goals in all competitions this term, you could understand why he may be questioning what he needs to do to gain more league starts for the team as only Andre Ayew has scored more times than he has this season.

But with the Mail adding that the striker wants to leave in January, it would appear that Sakho finding a new club and a line being drawn under this entire chapter would suit all parties as the Hammers look to keep themselves out of trouble in the top flight.