Some of the Moyes’ era player purchase and sale sagas were met with mixed reactions.
Often players immediately went to better things at new clubs , as the system they moved onto after West Ham immediately suited their playing methods – or a different coaching structure or style suited them better and their performance improved: the names of Scamacca, Haller, Vlasic, spring to mind as those whose careers have restarted after ‘surviving’ spells at London Stadium.
Credit where it’s due though, and one player who was ‘recycled’ away from London Stadium has failed to make a mark in his new club, vindicating the decision to part ways on a loan and then complete the loan-to-sell deal.
The interesting thing about Saïd Benrahma’s exit was that he was sent out on loan first to Lyon, with an ‘option’ but not an obligation to buy him at the end of the loan from London Stadium. There was one brief period when it seemed he would be returning after the loan spell.
Fortunately – for The Hammers – Lyon decided to take up the option and completed the purchase of the player for €14.4 million, on top of the initial €6 million loan fee (transfermrkt). Which, (although a loss on the €26 million -plus in loan and acquisition fee which The Hammers paid Brentford for the Algerian,) is starting to look like a very sensible decision to move him on.
Clearly ‘Benny’ is struggling to make an impact with Olympic Lyon, having only featured twice in games this season. According to L’Equipe both the club – (with four points in five games this season-sound familiar??) – and Said Benrahma are “having a hard time”:
The Algerian didn’t even make the squad for Lyon’s most recent 3-2 defeat. According to sport witness Said is ‘not hiding his annoyance that this move has turned into a downgrade’ on his previous ‘patchy’ selection pattern for West Ham United.
He’ll always be remembered for ‘that’ penalty in Prague but it seems as though other coaches and structures are having as much trouble getting a tune out of him as David Moyes did in London, vindicating the decision to let him leave. He remains undoubtedly talented, but a footballing enigma.