West Ham United to Bid Farewell to Eight Players in Nottingham Forest Clash
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West Ham United’s home crowd will be saying goodbye to at least eight players when they welcome Nottingham Forest to the London Stadium on Sunday. The Hammers may have little to play for in the Premier League, but there are still plenty of sub-plots to the game against Nottingham Forest.
According to a report from Hammers News, West Ham’s manager, Graham Potter, finally got a much-needed win last weekend, beating Manchester United 2-0 at Old Trafford. The victory breathed some much-needed positivity into the air around West Ham ahead of what is going to be a major summer rebuild.
The club has announced that four ageing senior players will be ruthlessly released by Potter as part of his revamp around younger players. Aaron Cresswell, Lukasz Fabianski, Vladimir Coufal, and Danny Ings are not having their contracts renewed and will go before West Ham’s London Stadium crowd for the last time this Sunday. The quartet have 25 years of service and over 700 West Ham appearances between them.
As Hammers News reported, Potter wants to take the Hammers in a different direction with a younger, more dynamic squad. The club has been saying goodbye to several players in recent seasons, including David Moyes, Declan Rice, and Mark Noble.
At least four more players will also be saying goodbye to the Hammers’ home faithful. Carlos Soler, who arrived on a season-long loan from PSG last summer, has hinted that he is open to staying at West Ham this summer. However, his deal will not be made permanent, and he will likely be loaned out elsewhere by PSG next season.
Evan Ferguson, a young striker signed from Brighton in January, has failed to make an impact and will return to his parent club. Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta are also expected to leave West Ham, with the club banking on Kudus bringing in big money and Paqueta’s future uncertain due to spot-fixing charges.
The game against Forest will be a goodbye to several players, including Paqueta, who set up the goal that won West Ham their only major trophy of the last 45 years on that unforgettable night in Prague two years ago. A number of other players will undoubtedly be appearing in front of West Ham’s home fans for the final time as Potter reshapes his squad.
West Ham have now released a statement asking supporters to take their seats early for the Forest clash. The club wants fans in the ground and to avoid long queues at the last moment, as they would like supporters in their seats for 2 pm – 15 minutes before kick-off. That is so they can bid farewell to long-serving Cresswell while also congratulating Aaron Wan-Bissaka on winning the club’s Hammer of the Year award.
As quoted in Hammers News, West Ham have asked supporters to stay after the final whistle while the club’s players and staff take a lap of the pitch. The lap promises to be an emotional one for a number of players ahead of a significant changing of the guard this summer.
“There will be a host of activities taking place throughout the afternoon to keep an eye on,” West Ham have announced. “We ask that supporters please take their seats by 2 pm, 15 minutes ahead of kick-off, in order to congratulate our 2024/25 Betway Hammer of the Year winner, and show appreciation to long-serving defender Aaron Cresswell, who will be leaving the Club after 11 years of service at the end of next month. After the game, we ask fans to remain in their seats, with the squad and staff set to do a lap of the pitch to show their appreciation for your amazing backing.”
The Nottingham Forest clash promises to be an emotional one for West Ham fans, as they bid farewell to several players who have contributed to the club’s success over the years. With a major summer rebuild on the cards, Potter will be looking to reshape his squad and bring in new talent to take the club forward.
As reported by Hammers News, West Ham’s plans for the Nottingham Forest clash are a fitting tribute to the players who will be leaving the club. The Hammers’ home crowd will be saying goodbye to at least eight players, and the club has put in place special plans to ensure that the occasion is marked in a memorable way.
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