Virgil van Dijk cited as West Ham line up new deal talks – pundit
Alan Hutton has claimed West Ham should wait until Angelo Ogbonna proves his fitness before offering him a long-term deal.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Tottenham and Scotland defender cited Virgil van Dijk’s return from a similar injury as a reason why West Ham should be hesitant.
The centre-back, who turns 34 next month, has not played since suffering an ACL injury against Liverpool in November last year (2021) and is out of contract at the end of the season.
The Athletic reported on Monday (18 April) that the Hammers are set to trigger a 12-month extension in his deal.
It is also claimed there will be preliminary talks with Ogbonna’s camp over a longer deal.
“He’s proven that he can handle the pressure of the team and play to a high standard,” Hutton told Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge.
“But the thing you’ve got to remember is at that age, it’s tough. We saw how long it took for Virgil van Dijk.
“It’s going to take a lengthy spell for him to get back to where he was before the injury.
“It would be nice for him to get a couple of seasons but whether he’s going to get that, I don’t know.
“He might have to prove his fitness year on year, that’s what tends to happen when you get to that age. So we’re going to have to wait and see.”
Ogbonna has played 202 times across all competitions for the Hammers since his move from Juventus in the summer of 2015.
He was an ever-present in the Premier League this season before his injury.
In other news, Kieran Maguire has saluted an ‘amazing deal’ as West Ham are set to bag a £2million-a-year boost.