David Sullivan confidant claims £14 million man set for surprise West Ham return after loan spell
One player is set to return to West Ham United in the summer, after his loan move away from the London Stadium has expired.
West Ham manager David Moyes sent numerous young players out on loan in the summer transfer window just gone.
However, the Hammers chief allowed one of his senior players to leave the London Stadium on a temporary basis as well.
Flynn Downes joined Southampton in the summer, and he has already earned rave reviews at St Mary’s, with Saints boss Russell Martin describing him as ‘outstanding’ and ‘monstrous’.
The 24-year-old does seem to be much more comfortable in the Championship, and I feel like his game is better suited to England’s second tier.
That said, it seems as though he may still have a future at the London Stadium…
Claret and Hugh claim that Downes is set to return to the Hammers when his loan spell with Southampton ends.
However, the caveat is that the main reason for bringing Downes back will be to help fulfil the Premier League’s homegrown player quotas.
Moyes brought the midfielder to West Ham from Swansea City for around £14 million in the summer of 2022 (Wales Online).
He arrived with the reputation as a tenacious tackling, ball-winning midfielder, but he just wasn’t given enough chances to shine under Moyes, and was given only 1,507 minutes by the Scot (Transfermarkt).
I still think that the 24-year-old is good enough to be a squad member at West Ham, although not a regular starter.
The Essex-born midfielder could definitely do a job as a late substitute, in tougher away games when we need someone to break up the play in the middle of the park, and in cup ties.
The fact that he would help us reach the homegrown player quota is obviously a major bonus as well.
And as things stand, it seems as though Flynn Downes will return to West Ham when his loan spell with Southampton ends.
