With their Premier League opener against Newcastle on the horizon, it's going to be an interesting week for West Ham after their captain, Mark Noble, voiced his displeasure at the club's decision to sell Grady Diangana to West Brom.
The Baggies have signed Diangana for an undisclosed fee, with the winger signing a five-year deal at The Hawthorns.
Diangana is returning to familiar surroundings having spent last season on loan at West Brom. He scored eight goals and registered seven assists in 30 games as the Baggies returned to the Premier League.
Taking to Twitter, Noble didn't mince his words about the move and said: "As captain of this football club, I’m gutted, angry and sad that Grady has left, great kid with a great future!!!!!
However, Noble isn't the only player to voice his unhappiness with the club's decision.
As captain of this football club I’m gutted, angry and sad that Grady has left, great kid with a great future!!!!! https://t.co/oNPPEp8Pt6
— MARK NOBLE (@Noble16Mark) September 4, 2020
The decision to sell Diangana has also not been well received by another one of his former West Ham team-mates, Jack Wilshere.
After Diangana announced that he'd be leaving in an Instagram post, midfielder Wilshere responded in the comments of the post, saying: "Go and do your thing in a club that respects you. Big player with a big future."
Jack Wilshere piling in now. “...a club that respects you” on Grady Diangana’s farewell posts. It’s getting worse on the PR front. pic.twitter.com/0NudgB2lVV
— Sam Inkersole (@Sam_InkersoleTM) September 4, 2020
After confirming the departure of Diangana - who made 21 appearances for the club after coming through their academy - a West Ham statement read:
"The decision to sell Grady has been made reluctantly but ultimately in the best interests of the club and with the aim to strengthen the squad in different areas at this time.
"The money received for Grady will be reinvested entirely in the team, in line with the manager's targets. We believe that this will give us the best possible chance of ensuring we have a balanced squad to compete in the Premier League and are capable of reaching our objectives and ambitions this season.
"Everyone at West Ham United would like to thank Grady for his service and commitment to the club, and wish him all the very best in his future career."
It's expected that some of the fee that West Ham received for Diangana will be spent on Burnley defender James Tarkowski. It's reported that The Hammers have registered a bid of around £20m for the centre-back.
As for Diangana, he'll be hoping to be involved in West Brom's season opener against Leicester City.
Meanwhile, David Moyes has to settle down a very unhappy dressing room before they face Newcastle.
