Expert: West Ham could pull Angelo Ogbonna U-turn amid injury ‘concerns’
West Ham will be “asking questions” about handing Angelo Ogbonna a fresh deal at the club amid “concerns” about his long-term fitness.
That is the view of injury expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis.
Ogbonna, 34, ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in November 2021 and underwent surgery soon after – only returning to individual training at the end of the 2021-22 campaign.
The Italy international is out of contract at the end of June.
The Athletic reported earlier this year that (18 April) West Ham are expected to trigger a one-year extension in Ogbonna’s current deal – with a longer-term deal also reportedly on the table.
However, Dinnery suggested that the defender’s wage demands may be “limited” by his fitness – with West Ham “taking a chance” on his future.
“We know that the rate of recovery becomes slower the older you get,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“He’s 34 years of age, so there is no hiding from the fact that there are going to be some slight issues.
“Even prior to the ACL injury – he had a couple of problems with soft tissue, hamstring issues, as well as a long-term ankle injury.
“At 34, it’s a concern. We’re talking about a contract – and a player who is earning in the region of £65,000-a-week.
“There aren’t a lot of clubs who will be able to take that chance if a player is coming off the back of a long-term injury.
“He may be limited in what he can demand from West Ham.
“It’s about what the club are prepared to give him – it’s risk and reward. There will be questions asked.”
In other news, West Ham could sell Tomas Soucek to fund two new faces after source reveal.