Many West Ham United fans have reacted to the news that Ryan Fredericks could miss up to seven weeks after being forced off injured against Gillingham on Sunday night.
It was the main negative of a good night which saw the Hammers coast through to the FA Cup Fourth Round with a 2-0 win.
Club insider ExWHUEmployee broke the news on social media yesterday and some weren’t happy that the club may be looking for a loan, rather than addressing the position for the long-term…
Twitter: @ExWHUemployee “Loan most likely” is actually ridiculous for a position the club has ignored for years. The last 4… https://t.co/nkExdtZwJU (@WestHamWaycouk)
Twitter: @ExWHUemployee Bogle £7m and young would make a lot more sense…
Don’t understand the short term view of the club,… https://t.co/PufsXlw0b4 (@StevenMcCarthy9)
Twitter: @ExWHUemployee Promote youth to step up or get a permanent signing. Need to replace Zabs any way (@maadak15)
Many fans were conjuring who should be a replacement with Pablo Zabaleta now the club’s only fit first-team right-back…
Twitter: @ExWHUemployee Clyne I’m guessing ? (@WhuEthan)
Twitter: @ExWHUemployee Heard Nelson Semedo wants to leave Barca, Might be unrealistic but not impossible (@No3l999)
Twitter: @ExWHUemployee Any chance Ben Johnson gets a look in? (@CJHODGY)
READ WEST HAM VERDICT
With the jury still firmly out on Fredericks and the fact that Zabaleta is nearing the end of his stint at the club, it’s the perfect time for West Ham to consider the position.
Long-term options like Max Aarons and Jayden Bogle could be attainable and would prove Moyes has a view of the future at the London Stadium.
Financially, a loan move for a more experienced option like Clyne may be wiser, but now seems a better time than ever to address the position properly.
It’s a crucial blow for the Hammers though, who will have to rely on 34-year-old Zabaleta to hold down the right side of the defence.
