Exclusive: Bent fumes over ‘No Brainer’ West Ham pursuit as ‘Awful’ 26y/o doesn’t deserve move
Darren Bent fumed over the idea that West Ham could offer goalkeeper Jack Butland a way out of Stoke City.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider correspondent Laura O’Leary, the former Tottenham forward admitted it was a no-brainer for the Hammers to swoop for the 26-year-old but claimed he didn’t deserve a move.
Football Insider recently revealed that the Hammers were in pursuit of Butland with them on the hunt to sign a British keeper who is proven in the Premier League.
Bent explained that while it made sense and would be a good signing for the Hammers as Butland matches their criteria, the Stoke shot-stopper has been awful this season and doesn’t deserve a move.
When asked if Butland is a no-brainer swoop as he’s likely the most talented available British keeper on the market, Bent told Football Insider: “You know what, it does seem like a no-brainer but his form has been awful as well.
“He started the season awfully, making mistake after mistake after mistake and I’m telling you now that was because he wasn’t focused.
“He wasn’t fully focused on being at Stoke as he thought he would have been out of there before then, so his focus was elsewhere which led to mistake after mistake.
“A lot of the goals were his fault, look at where Stoke are in the league, they’re struggling.
“For me, it would be a good move as far as signing English players, does he deserve it? Would I say he deserves a move? Probably not because his form this season hasn’t been great.
“If you look at Pope, Heaton, Pickford, these guys are streets ahead of him.”
Butland has played 16 times this season for the Potters, conceding 27 goals and keeping three clean sheets in the process.
The English goalkeeper could be available to purchase in January with it being reported that Stoke could sell Butland in the new year if an acceptable offer is received as they’re trying to get big earners off their books.
In other West Ham news, it can be REVEALED that Daniel Levy is set to block Hammers pursuit of Tottenham man who’s keen to move.