With reports that West Ham would be interested in signing former Arsenal defender Johan Djourou, the player has revealed things could be very easy for them come the end of the season.
Out of contract in the summer, the player appears to have no reason to sign a new deal with his current club, HSV in the Bundesliga.
Speaking to Aargauer Zeitung on Friday, the West Ham target explained his current situation in Germany, where he has only made three league appearances since January, which includes an 8-0 thumping at the hands of Bayern Munich.
It all started back in November when the current manager, Markus Gisdol, decided to strip the captaincy from him, something Djourou didn’t take very well.
He explained: “It came at a time when the debates began whether or not the manager should leave. It seems to me the manager tried to divert the problem away from him, so that people started talking about the captain change instead. If someone fights for as long as I do for HSV, then I find how he dealt with me questionable.
“For me the team always comes first, and the team chose me as a captain. I realise I’m in a difficult situation. The club brought in two new defenders. That’s why I wanted to leave in January. I had offers. They said “No, we need you. You’re so important to us”, and then I don’t play anyway.”
Clearly looking for an exit from Germany, such words will probably be music to Slaven Bilic’s ears, who will also have found out from the interview that HSV blocked a proposed move to Crystal Palace.
Explaining the lack of stability at the club (eight managers and three DoFs in four years) as one of the main reasons why he wants to leave HSV, Djourou will certainly be looking for clubs who don’t continuously change managers.
With the Hammers still within reach of a top half finish after a rather unsuccessful season, it remains to be seen if they will just write this campaign off as a blip after last year’s joys and keep their faith in Slaven Bilic.
The move to the London Stadium certainly didn’t help, nor did the Dimitri Payet situation, and there is a feeling that with a few clever signings, and with key players staying fit, there could be a lot more to come from this West Ham side.
Perhaps that will be enough to convince Djourou to choose them.
