West Ham source Claret & Hugh has dismissed speculation surrounding the future of Said Benrahma amid claims of underperformance and a failure to impress David Moyes.
The Algerian winger joined on a season-long loan from Brentford last October for a £5m loan fee, rising to a permanent cost of £25m (as per BBC).
Despite a slow start which has seen the 25-year-old yet to score and supply just two assists for his club, Claret & Hugh claimed that he is set for a four-year permanent stay at the London Stadium.
The source has denied rumours of a clause in his contract which means his stay will only become automatically permanent when he plays a certain number of games for the club.
The only apparent obstacle to sealing a permanent switch to West Ham is the fulfilment of his summer medical in which he had to take new blood tests. The player reportedly feels that there is no real threat to completing the switch, meaning all parties are relaxed over his future.
Whilst it could be argued that more might have been expected in terms of creativity and goal output when Benrahma made his move, all parties seem satisfied. Moyes reportedly wants the 25-year-old to improve in terms of ball retention and openly stated as such as he adjusts his in-game discipline, but there is no serious danger of him falling out of the manager’s plans.
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Whilst Benrahma needs to step up in terms of goals, he has shown he has the quality needed to add dynamism to West Ham’s game.
Two assists and an average of 1.4 shots per game is a springboard for better performances, although an average dispossession frequency of almost twice per game is cause for concern.
Moyes was certainly justified in calling on Benrahma to improve defensively, and hopefully he will do so in order to truly quell speculation over his future at West Ham.
